Ontario Premier Doug Ford addresses U.S. tariffs on March 4. Photo: government of Ontario

Canadian province Ontario is canceling an award to SpaceX for Starlink internet service in remote communities after President Trump instituted U.S. tariffs against Canada at midnight on March 4.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on March 4 that the province will “rip up our contract with Starlink, take U.S. alcohol off LCBO’s shelves and ban U.S. companies from government procurements.”

“It’s done, it’s gone,” Ford said in a Tuesday press conference speaking about the Starlink contract. “We won’t award contracts to people that enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country.”

In early February, Ford threatened to end the contract with Starlink, but the retaliatory measure was paused after the U.S. pushed back the start date for tariffs.

On March 4, Trump implemented 25% taxes on Mexican and Canadian imports, and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy. Canada implemented retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.

Ontario announced the contract for Starlink in November of 2024. It is worth up to 92 million Canadian dollars ($65 million) to cover Starlink capacity and hardware costs to connect 15,000 homes and businesses. The Ontario Satellite Internet (ONSAT) program is part of a large-scale investment in Ontario to expand access to high-speed internet.  

Ford said in a Feb. 3 press conference that Ontario hasn’t paid “a penny” on the Starlink contract, which was set to start in June. 

“President Trump is the only person to be blamed. Maybe Elon Musk can call his buddy — this is one of the ramifications,” Ford said at the time. 

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has been closely involved with the new Trump administration, tasked with cutting government spending and raising alarm among Democrats for the amount of power Musk has access to.

This story was published on Feb. 3 and updated on March 4 once the tariffs went into effect.