Why Doug Ford is spending $75M on U.S. ads starring Ronald Reagan Artwork

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Why Doug Ford is spending $75M on U.S. ads starring Ronald Reagan

October 15, 2025 • Village Media Inc.

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The Skipper and The Gipper? That’s one way of putting it.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is spending big bucks to try to convince Americans that tariffs aren’t the way to go — and he’s enlisting the unmistakable voice of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to help in the fight.

Ford revealed Tuesday that his government is launching a $75-million advertising campaign across most major U.S. networks, highlighting the pitfalls of protectionism for American workers and consumers.

The first ad, found HERE, features Reagan’s famous 1987 radio address, in which he says that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.”

“Then the worst happens,” Reagan goes on to say in the ad.

“Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs. Throughout the world, there's a growing realization that the weight of prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition.”

Will the commercial blitz make any difference? Will average Americans even notice the ads? Or could all those millions be better spent somewhere else?

Joining us on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is Katherine DeClerq, a journalist at The Trillium who has spent a lot of time covering Doug Ford’s fight against Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

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