Premier Ford Convenes Emergency Industrial Roundtable in Hamilton to Coordinate Tariff Defense Grants

HAMILTON, ON — Ontario Premier Doug Ford convened an emergency industrial leadership roundtable at ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton on Sunday afternoon, pledging full provincial backing for the province's manufacturing and automotive workforce amid escalating U.S. tariffs.

Provincial Industrial Safeguards and Liquidity Support

The meeting, attended by leaders from the Canadian Steel Producers Association, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), and Unifor, outlined a $1.5-billion Ontario Manufacturing Protection Framework. The provincial package includes accelerated capital cost allowances, emergency energy rate rebates, and short-term working capital loan guarantees through the Ontario Financing Authority.

"Ontario workers make the finest steel, cars, and industrial machinery in the world," Ford declared. "We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our workers, protect every single manufacturing job, and ensure our factories keep running."

Cross-Border Supply Chain Integration

Industry representatives emphasized that Ontario automotive parts cross the U.S.-Canada border up to seven times during final vehicle assembly in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Imposing arbitrary border duties creates severe cost inflation for North American automakers that could idle assembly plants on both sides of the border.

Unifor leadership supported the provincial liquidity framework while calling for extended employment insurance work-sharing provisions for assembly line operators.

Next Intergovernmental Steps

Premier Ford will present the Ontario manufacturing relief framework to federal counterparts during the First Ministers' virtual summit on Tuesday.