A new Liaison Strategies poll shows Ford’s approval rating has jumped 12 percentage points in just one month, from a record-low 24 per cent in July to 36 per cent in August. At the same time, the PCs have retaken the lead in provincial voting intentions, with 39 per cent support among decided and leaning voters compared with 35 per cent for the Ontario Liberals and 20 per cent for the NDP. The poll also exposes an unusual divide between provincial and federal Conservatives.

Ford said Wednesday that any move to restrict power flowing south of the border would need to be part of a coordinated response involving other provinces, even as he maintained that Canada should be prepared to use all of its available economic leverage against the United States.

The potential development would also mark a major transformation for a community that lost a significant employer when Ontario phased out coal-fired electricity.

The government is framing the latest $6-million commitment as part of its broader “Build Canada Strong through Sport” agenda, which it says is intended to expand opportunities for Canadians to participate in sport and physical activity while strengthening community connections.

Premiers are expected to be briefed on the federal measures during a call Tuesday. Ford indicated Monday that his government is prepared to introduce measures of its own, after discussing the next steps with Carney.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and at least two premiers won’t rule out targeting energy and critical minerals as Canada weighs going beyond the dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs already announced in response to 50 per cent U.S. duties on roughly $28 billion of Canadian goods.

The premier also shed more light on why he opposed the potential agreement being negotiated with Washington, saying his central concern was the failure to secure relief for steel and automobiles.

Asked whether the sticking point was the 25 per cent tariffs affecting those sectors, Ford agreed, saying the U.S. “weren’t budging on that.”