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Ontario Premier Doug Ford addresses canceling Starlink contract during a press conference on Feb. 3. Screenshot via YouTube

Canadian province Ontario plans to cancel an award to SpaceX for Starlink internet service in remote communities if President Trump moves forward with U.S. tariffs against Canada. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement on X on Monday that the government will be “ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink.” Ford said Ontario will ban American companies from provincial contracts until U.S. tariffs against Canada are removed. 

Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on China, but tariffs on Canada and Mexico are now both on hold as of Monday evening. 

Ford said in an update on Monday that Ontario’s retaliatory measures are on a pause as long as the U.S. tariffs are paused.

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.  

“U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame,” Ford said in a statement when announcing the retaliatory moves. “We’re going one step further. We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink. Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy. Canada didn’t start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’re ready to win it.” 

Ford said in a Monday 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. 

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 updated after the U.S. and Canada announced a pause on tariffs 

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