Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving as the 26th Premier of Ontario and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. Born on November 20, 1964, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Ford is the brother of the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Before provincial politics, Doug Ford was a Toronto city councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North from 2010 to 2014.
He later ran for mayor in the 2014 election but finished second behind John Tory. In 2018, Ford became the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and subsequently won the provincial election, becoming Premier.
In recent developments, Premier Ford imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York in response to U.S. tariffs. This move led to heightened tensions with President Donald Trump, who threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports.
After discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Ford suspended the electricity surcharge, leading Trump to halt plans to increase tariffs. However, incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the retention of federal tariffs on U.S. goods until American commitments to free trade are secured.