‘Not going back’: Ford will cancel Starlink-Ontario deal even if tariffs are lifted | Globalnews.ca
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On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped 25 per cent tariffs on the vast majority of Canadian imports, sparking a growing trade war between the two neighbouring countries.

Summary

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province will permanently cancel its $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink, even if U.S. tariffs are lifted.

The decision follows Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, which prompted Ontario to ban U.S. firms from contracts.

Ford cited Musk’s ties to Trump as a factor and said he is willing to fight potential legal fallout.

Musk previously responded to cancellation threats with a dismissive “Oh well.”

  • CruxifuxEnglish
    13•12 days ago

    Why tf we doing starlink deals with that fucking idiot in the first place?

    • Great Blue HeronEnglish
      13•12 days ago

      From a consumer perspective it’s a good solution for internet in remote areas and Ontario has a lot of remote areas. I used it for a couple of years when my only other option was a local wireless provider with an expensive high speed plan with advertised downloads up to 10Mbps, but actually never got anywhere near that. I’m lucky that I now have fibre and my starlink hardware is collecting dust in the shed.

      • @Obi@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        4•11 days ago

        Yeah I used one on rental while camping and I have to say it was great. I hear some European alternatives are coming, looking forward to them, hopefully they also work out ways to do it that doesn’t involve as much space pollution.

        • @NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1•11 days ago

          Nothing will ever be as cheap as starlink until another launch provider has a reusable first stage rocket. For rural people starlink is competitively priced, but for anyone who doesn’t need it, they think it’s crazy expensive.

          Now make that 50% or more for a similar service until they can fully launch on a reusable rocket. It’ll be hard for anyone to get a foothold without taking big losses, or taking the anyone but Musk business.

    • @psmgx@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9•12 days ago

      Ontario is a massive province and rural internet outside of a handful of areas is terrible. Satellite, esp. good, consistent satellite, is a godsend for those areas – no one is running fiber out to a town of only 2000 bodies that’s highly isolated.

      It was a reasonable choice, assuming Musk was mostly sane and not onboard with MAGA.

      • CruxifuxEnglish
        4•12 days ago

        Ah see, Im an idiot, and got star link and spacex mixed up.