Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was pleased to hear about the Democratsâ victory in Tuesday’s U.S midterm elections, adding he hopes it leads to better trade relations for Canada and the province.Â
“I couldnât be happier,” Ford told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.Â
“I was doing cartwheels down the street. I was jumping up and down when the results were coming in,” he said.Â
The Democrats won several Senate seats previously held by Republicans and flipped more than two dozen congressional districts, taking control of both the House and the Senate.
The results mean U.S. President Donald Trump will have to work with Democrats to get work done through Congress, reducing the power heâll have during his last two years in office.Â
Trump has begun backpedalling following the losses, shifting blame elsewhere but also pledging to work with the Democrats. Ford says this is a victory for Canadians and the rest of the world.
Ford told reporters the loss for the Republicans shows the American people are frustrated by the cost of living, which is exacerbated by U.S. tariffs on Canada.Â
“President Trump has to start listening,” he said. “Let’s do everything we can to get rid of these tariffs and show prosperity in both countries.”
Ford said the trade war is still ongoing, but the Democrats’ victory is an opportunity to build relationships in hopes of striking a better deal for Canada.
He says he has directed his cabinet to head to the United States once the new members are sworn in to build relationships and de-escalate the trade war.
The Democrats held their seats in Michigan, which Ford said is Ontarioâs number one trading partner. Ford said the stateâs auto sector has been hit hard by the trade tensions with Canada and heâs ready to work with the new senator, Abdul El-Sayed, and Governor Jocelyn Benson.
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“The new senator wants one thing. He wants jobs, he wants prosperity, he wants economic growth in Michigan, and so does the new governor,” said Ford. “We’re going to continue building a great relationship.”
When asked to share his candid thoughts on the loss for Trump’s party, Ford said he was “happy as punch.”
“I canât stand the guy,” he said before leaving the conference.
