Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentScott Stinson: The Conservative premier, the Democratic governor, and their unlikely alliance‘I love the United States,’ Doug Ford said, in hopes that the United States will soon start loving him backLast updated 17 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford walk up the stairs in the main foyer at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Peter Power/PostmediaDoug Ford came down the central staircase in the main foyer at Queen’s Park on Wednesday afternoon, a big smile across his face.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe premier of Ontario took his place at the bottom of the stairs, and stood expectantly, facing east and looking down the long, green-carpeted hallway.Add some organ music and a boutonniere on his lapel, and he would have looked very much like a groom at a wedding.Which, in a way, he was. Down the hallway came the other, er, groom, as Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania, strode purposefully down the carpet.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againWhen he got close enough to Ford, Shapiro reached out a hand and said, “There he is!” like he was seeing an old pal again for the first time in a while. The men exchanged pleasantries for the benefit of the assembled cameras.“How are you?”“It’s great to see you.”“I’m looking forward to spending some time with you.”Then it was up the grand staircase toward Ford’s office. The premier joked about the governor being in better shape than him. The governor dutifully laughed. As they disappeared up the steps, the protective officers for each of the politicians, trailing behind, introduced themselves and shook hands.The entire choreographed scene was a prelude to a formal union of sorts, although the value and significance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed about an hour later between Ontario and Pennsylvania can be a matter of debate.The deal, which is really just a long and detailed promise to work together across a number of industries in hopes of increasing mutual trade and investment, was more symbolic than anything else.And yet, at this moment in time, those symbols matter. Shapiro is a Democrat, and a frequent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump. Ford is a Conservative, and a one-time Trump supporter. They are unlikely allies. And yet, if the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Ford and Shapiro have every reason to be great buddies.Ford’s date with Shapiro came after a brief trip to Washington, D.C., for the premier, where he says he met all kinds of leaders from the Congress and Senate, who heard his gospel about the importance of trade between Canada and the United States and the folly of Trump’s trade wars and tariffs.But the thing about that kind of trip is that it was always unlikely to lead to quick, concrete results — especially after a planned reception for Ford from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was cancelled, reportedly after complaints from the White House.And so here was Shapiro, happy to stand alongside Ford and offer their mutual commitment to do, well, whatever it is they will ultimately do.After some remarks and a signing ceremony — again with the wedding vibes — it was time for the leaders to take some questions. And it was clear that the Tory and the Democrat are very much singing from the same sheet.Ford called the United States our closest allies, and said that Ontario was “the top customer” in terms of exports from Pennsylvania. “I love the United States,” he said, an oft-repeated line that has become a little more plaintive as Trump’s trade war has dragged on.Shapiro laid it on even a bit more thick. He said he was pleased to be in Toronto, hitting the second ‘t’ hard in that way that people who don’t come here often do. The governor, who is thought to be a potential presidential candidate in 2028, said Canadians fought alongside Americans overseas to fight fascism, and we were “by their side” in the aftermath of 9/11.He said Ontario accounts for more than three-quarters of Pennsylvanian exports and Ontarians provide one-third of its tourism ministry.Then Shapiro got to the key point: “I know,” he said, “that to many Canadians, the United States does not feel welcoming right now.” He cited the “reckless rhetoric” coming from the White House.“Hear me on this,” Shapiro said, before emphasizing that he will always respect Canadian sovereignty.When a reporter noted that Trump had said earlier Wednesday that he wasn’t interested in renewing the trade agreement between the two countries (and Mexico), and that the United States doesn’t need anything from Canada, Shapiro said, “I do not believe the president is right.”He said that trade isn’t a “zero-sum game,” a subtle rebuke of Trump’s bizarre insistence that countries that sell goods to the United States are somehow ripping Americans off.When Ford was asked about Trump’s remarks, he said it would be up to Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal negotiators to “work that out.” The premier has evidently learned not to poke that bear with too many sticks.But, therein lies the problem. For all of the pomp and circumstance that accompanied the signing of an agreement between Ontario and Pennsylvania on Wednesday, it will not amount to much if Trump follows through on threats to tear up the CUSMA trade deal — the one he touted and signed, of course — and wallop Canada with tariffs.All the weddings in the world aren’t going to matter, in other words, if the White House is intent on filing for divorce.sstinson@postmedia.com Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.