B.C. plans to launch its own anti-tariff ads even as Ontario paused its own campaign after U.S. President Donald Trump’s cancellation of trade talks.
In a series of social media posts, B.C. Premier David Eby said the ads will be aimed at an American audience “to explain who wins and who loses” with the tariffs.
“Americans need to hear how tariffs raise prices,” he said in one post. “We’re making ads to defend B.C. and Canada’s forestry workers. Our wood faces higher U.S. tariffs than Russia. Absurd. Truth will win!”
In another post, Eby said it’s important to speak to Americans who are planning to build or renovate homes.
“Their costs are going up — because Donald Trump has slapped additional tariffs on top of already unfair softwood duties,” he wrote. “We didn’t do it, so we shouldn’t wear it.”
Eby said the campaign will be digital and start next month.
It’s important to speak directly to Americans looking to build home or renovate. Their costs are going up – because Donald Trump has slapped additional tariffs on top of already unfair softwood duties. We didn’t do it, so we shouldn’t wear it. pic.twitter.com/IKxCzqCHOq
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) October 24, 2025
The announcement comes a day after Trump halted trade negotiations with Ottawa over TV ads critical of his tariffs on Canadian goods.
The ad, which aired on American TV stations, was paid for by the Ontario government and featured footage of former president Ronald Reagan warning about the economic damage posed by tariffs.
On Friday, Ford said he will hit pause on the ad campaign on Monday so that Canada-U. S. trade talks can resume.
Ford said he decided to pull the plug on the campaign after speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is travelling in Asia for back-to-back summits where he is expected to encounter the U.S. president.
But the premier also said he’ll only stop running the ads after the weekend, so they can play throughout the first two World Series games and get in front of a massive American audience.
“Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” Ford said on X on Friday. “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.”
Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses. We've achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels. I've directed my team to keep putting our…
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 24, 2025
With files from The Canadian Press
