Doug Ford Promotes Fortress North America in Washington; Ontario 2026

Key Points

• Ontario Premier Doug Ford is in Washington, D.C. to lobby against U.S. tariffs and promote free trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico
• Ford is launching his new vision called “Fortress North America,” a trilateral economic partnership including Canada, the U.S., and Mexico
• This is the first of three trips Ford will make to the U.S. in June 2026
• Ontario’s unemployment rate sits at 7 per cent, marking a significant economic challenge for the province
• Ontario lost more than 25,000 manufacturing jobs since May 2025 alone
• Ford will meet with elected officials and business leaders during his two-day Washington visit
• The goal is to lower costs, create a jobs boom, and protect shared security across North America
• Ford is not negotiating on CUSMA but promoting increased economic ties under a strengthened Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement
• Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce was interviewed by Power & Politics about the trip
• Trade conflict between allies creates uncertainty that benefits competitors, not workers, according to Ford
• Toronto’s unemployment rate is at 8.8 per cent, the highest in over a decade outside of COVID
• Youth unemployment in Ontario is approaching a boiling point, with teen unemployment climbing from 14.9% to 22.2% between 2019-2025

Washington, D.C. (Evening Washington News) June 8, 2026 – Ontario Premier Doug Ford is in Washington making the case for what he calls “Fortress North America,” a bold trilateral vision for Canada, the United States, and Mexico to work together on economic prosperity, as the trip coincides with Ontario grappling with a seven per cent unemployment rate.

Why Is Premier Ford Lobbying Against Tariffs During This Critical Economic Period?

Ford says he plans to lobby against President Donald Trump’s tariffs and to promote increased trade during his two-day visit, according to footage from CBC’s Power & Politics. As reported by the CBC news team, Ford will meet with elected officials and business leaders to launch Fortress North America, described as

“a bold vision for how Canada, the US, and Mexico can work together to lower costs, create a jobs boom, and protect our shared security”.

The Premier is not going to Washington to negotiate on CUSMA (Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement). Instead, what he is doing is promoting what he’s now calling Fortress North America, which represents a change from his usual promotion of “Fortress AmCan” or “Fortress America and Canada,” an economic growth strategy he launched some time ago promoting increased economic ties between Canada and the US. Now it appears he’s including Mexico in that as well.

How Does Ontario’s 7 Per Cent Unemployment Rate Connect to Ford’s Free Trade Mission?

The trip comes as Ontario’s unemployment rate sits at seven per cent, Power & Politics reported. As reported by the Ontario PC party,

“Unemployment has now risen to 7 percent – a number not seen since 2016, outside of the COVID period,”

marking the third consecutive monthly increase in the unemployment rate. Unemployment has been steadily rising for two years, and Canada has experienced virtually no employment growth since January.

As reported by Conservative Party spokespeople, unemployment rates in Ontario’s major cities have risen sharply to 10.8 per cent in Windsor, 9.1 per cent in Oshawa, 8.8 per cent in Toronto, and 8.4 per cent in Barrie.

Toronto’s unemployment rate is at the highest it’s been in over a decade, outside of COVID, and Ontario lost more than 25,000 manufacturing jobs since last May alone. In total, there were 1.6 million unemployed Canadians in May, an increase of 13.8 per cent or 191,000 people from this time last year.

What Exactly Is “Fortress North America” and How Does It Differ from Previous Strategies?

“This week, I will be heading down to Washington, D.C., to meet with American officials and launch our plan to build Fortress North America — a renewed partnership between Canada, the United States and Mexico anchored in the strength of the Canada-U.S. relationship and reinforced by our trilateral partnership with Mexico,”

Ford wrote in his Financial Post op-ed.

As reported by Ford in the Financial Post,

“Trade conflict between allies only creates uncertainty and that uncertainty benefits our competitors, not our workers”.

He emphasized that

“That is why it is in all our shared interests to move forward together under a renewed Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). A strengthened CUSMA will support shared prosperity and unlock the full potential of Fortress North America”.

According to CBC reporting,

“Now, Doug Ford is not going there to negotiate on CUSMA. What he is doing there is promoting what he’s now calling Fortress North America. That’s a change to what he usually promotes. He usually calls it Fortress AmCan, Fortress America and Canada. That’s an economic growth strategy that he launched some time ago promoting increased economic ties between Canada and the US. But now it seems like he’s including Mexico in that as well”.

Who Is Ford Meeting With and What Are the Specific Goals of His Two-Day Visit?

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is heading to Washington today, and they say in a statement that Premier Ford will be going to Washington for two days during which time he’ll meet with elected officials and business leaders to launch Fortress North America. It’s the first of three trips to the U.S. that Ford will make in June.

Ford says he’s going to lobby against President Donald Trump’s tariffs and to promote increased trade. He says he plans to lobby against tariffs and promote free trade.

What Is Stephen Lecce’s Role and What Did He Say About the Washington Trip?

As reported by CBC’s Power & Politics, the program heard from Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce regarding Ford’s Washington trip. Stephen Lecce was recently appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, with an expanded mandate focused on accelerating resource development, according to his official MPP profile.

Lecce is Ontario’s current Minister of Energy and Mines and the Member of Provincial Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King—Vaughan.

How Bad Is Ontario’s Unemployment Crisis Really?

Under Ford, the unemployment rate reached 7.1 per cent in Ontario last month, significantly higher than the 5.6 per cent in 2018 when he took office, according to the Ontario NDP. This marks the third consecutive monthly increase in the unemployment rate, as unemployment has been steadily rising for 2 years.

The average duration unemployed Canadians have spent searching for work has also risen to an average of 21.8 weeks, up from 18.4 weeks in May 2024. In total, there were 1.6 million unemployed Canadians in May, an increase of 13.8 per cent or 191,000 people from this time last year.

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What Does Youth Unemployment Data Show About Ontario’s Economic Challenges?

Youth unemployment is approaching a boiling point in Ontario, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Between 2019 and 2025, unemployment rates among teens aged 15 to 19 climbed from 14.9 per cent to 22.2 per cent, a 7.4 percentage point increase. This represents a particularly severe challenge for young Ontarians entering the workforce.

Background: The Development of Doug Ford’s “Fortress North America” Economic Strategy

Premier Doug Ford initially launched an economic growth strategy called “Fortress AmCan” or “Fortress America and Canada” some time ago, which focused specifically on promoting increased economic ties between Canada and the United States.

This strategy emerged during a period when Ford sought to strengthen the Canada-U.S. economic relationship as a cornerstone of Ontario’s economic policy.

The evolution to “Fortress North America” represents a strategic expansion of Ford’s original vision. By incorporating Mexico into the trilateral partnership, Ford is acknowledging the importance of the full CUSMA framework rather than just the bilateral Canada-U.S. relationship.

This change reflects growing recognition that North American economic integration requires coordination among all three member nations to effectively address tariff threats and trade uncertainty.

Ford’s Washington visit is the first of three planned trips to the U.S. in June 2026, indicating a sustained effort to promote this vision rather than a one-time diplomatic gesture.

The timing coincides with mounting economic pressure in Ontario, as the province faces its highest unemployment rate since 2016 outside of the COVID period.

The strategy emphasizes that trade conflict between allies creates uncertainty that benefits competitors rather than workers, according to Ford’s Financial Post op-ed published June 7, 2026. This messaging positions Fortress North America as a defensive measure against protectionism while promoting shared prosperity across the continent.

Prediction: How This Development Can affect Ontario Workers, Families, and Businesses

Ontario’s 7 per cent unemployment rate means approximately 1.6 million unemployed Canadians are searching for work, with Ontario losing more than 25,000 manufacturing jobs since May 2025 alone.

If Ford’s Fortress North America vision successfully reduces tariffs and promotes free trade, it could help create the “jobs boom” he promised during his Washington visit. Manufacturing workers in cities like Windsor (10.8% unemployment) and Toronto (8.8% unemployment) would be among the first to benefit if trade barriers decrease and cross-border production increases.

However, the average duration unemployed Canadians have spent searching for work has risen to 21.8 weeks, up from 18.4 weeks in May 2024.

This means Ontario workers face increasingly difficult job markets. Ford’s success in Washington could shorten this duration if new jobs are created, but failure to reduce tariffs could prolong unemployment for thousands of Ontarians.

Effect on Ontario’s Young People Entering the Workforce

Youth unemployment in Ontario is approaching a boiling point, with teen unemployment (ages 15-19) climbing from 14.9 per cent to 22.2 per cent between 2019 and 2025. This 7.4 percentage point increase represents a severe challenge for young Ontarians.

If Fortress North America succeeds in creating jobs across the trilateral partnership, young workers could gain better access to entry-level positions in manufacturing, services, and resource development sectors.

Stephen Lecce’s expanded mandate as Minister of Energy and Mines, focused on accelerating resource development, could complement Ford’s trade mission by creating jobs in Ontario’s resource sector.

Young workers interested in energy-intensive industries would benefit from increased trilateral cooperation.

Impact on Ontario Businesses Facing Tariff Threats

Ontario businesses face uncertainty from potential U.S. tariffs, which Ford is lobbying against in Washington.

Trade conflict creates uncertainty that benefits competitors, not workers, according to Ford. Businesses in manufacturing, agriculture, and resource sectors that depend on cross-border trade would benefit most from reduced tariffs and strengthened CUSMA.

Toronto businesses facing 8.8 per cent local unemployment could see improved conditions if Fortress North America lowers costs and increases trade flows. Small businesses particularly depend on predictable trade rules to plan investments and hiring.

Economic Effects on Ontario’s Major Cities

Cities like Windsor (10.8% unemployment), Toronto (8.8%), Oshawa (9.1%), and Barrie (8.4%) face particularly severe unemployment challenges.

If Ford’s Washington mission succeeds in promoting free trade and reducing tariffs, these urban centers could experience job creation in manufacturing and service sectors. Conversely, if tariffs increase despite Ford’s lobbying, these cities could face further job losses.

The 25,000 manufacturing jobs lost since May 2025 indicate significant vulnerability in Ontario’s industrial base.

Ford’s Fortress North America vision aims to reverse this trend through trilateral cooperation, but success depends on U.S. willingness to reduce protectionist measures.

Long-Term Implications for Ontario’s Economic Recovery

Ontario’s unemployment rate reached 7.1 per cent last month, significantly higher than 5.6 per cent in 2018 when Ford took office.

This represents three consecutive monthly increases with virtually no employment growth since January. Ford’s Washington trip represents a critical moment for Ontario’s economic recovery strategy.

If Fortress North America succeeds in creating shared prosperity across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, Ontario could see unemployment rates decline toward pre-2025 levels. The strengthened CUSMA framework Ford advocates could support shared prosperity and unlock the full potential of North American economic integration.

However, if the mission fails to reduce tariffs or address trade uncertainty, Ontario’s unemployment crisis could worsen, with particularly severe impacts on manufacturing workers and young people entering the workforce.