TRENTON, Canada

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that the province would add a 25% charge to electricity it sends to 1.5 million American homes and businesses, effective Monday.

And Ford warned that if US President Donald Trump expands tariffs on Canadian goods, he will double the charge on the CAN$700 million ($489 million) electrical bill sent to the northern US each year.

Ontario provides electricity to the states of New York, Minnesota and Michigan.

“This Monday, we’re putting a tariff, a 25% tariff, on electricity to the 1.5 million homes and businesses in those three states,” Ford told CNN, Thursday, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported.

“And honestly, it really bothers me,” he said. “We have to do this. I don’t want to do this.”

Ford said the charge would apply even if US tariffs on Canadian imports are paused, as appears to be the case, until April 2. There must be a complete end to the tariffs, he said.

“Isn’t this a shame? This whole thing with President Trump is an absolute mess,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park, the provincial headquarters in Toronto, the Globe and Mail reported.

“This reprieve, we’ve been down this road before. You know, he still threatens the tariffs on April 2, and let’s cut to the chase, let’s put an end to this,” he said.

Ford said he sent a letter earlier this week to the governors of the three US states, warning that the electrical tariff was coming. All three are Democrats.

“They understand. Are they unhappy? Sure, they aren’t happy.” said Ford. “They have to be on the steps of Capitol Hill screaming and shouting, saying this is hurting. But the Republicans have to do that as well.”