Premier Doug Ford is again ramping up his rhetoric about a potential early election in Ontario, telling reporters that he needs a “clear” mandate to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Premier Doug Ford, who has been setting the stage for an early vote by warning Trump levies would require tens of billions of dollars in stimulus spending to keep the province’s economy afloat, said there is a rationale for an election.

“This is going to be for four years with Donald Trump. He wants to undermine us any which way he can. He wants to take jobs away from Ontarians. He wants to attract businesses from Ontario to come down to the United States,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park on Monday.

Ontario’s premier is proving to be the best leader we have in the looming confrontation with Donald Trump’s Washington

In sharp contrast to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has sought a “carve out” from tariffs for her province’s oil and gas exports and opposes retaliatory tariffs, Ford said Canada must stand up to the new U.S. administration.

As Ontario braces for potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, Premier Doug Ford said removing American products from LCBO outlets will be among the provincial-level retaliatory measures he would pursue.