Ford rejects U.S. accusations over Canada’s wildfire response as smoke from hundreds of active fires continues affecting millions.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday condemned criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers over Canada’s response to ongoing wildfires, calling the accusations “totally unacceptable” as hundreds of fires continued burning across the country.
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Speaking at a press conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Ford said the province was focused on responding to an escalating wildfire emergency and described the rhetoric coming from the United States as “shameful.”
“We’re trying to get through this,” Ford said.
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Trump said Friday he was considering additional tariffs on Canada, accusing the government of “willful negligence” and a failure to carry out “basic Forest Management.” In a Truth Social post, he blamed Canada’s wildfire management for smoke that has spread across parts of the United States.
“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote, adding that the situation was costing the United States “billions of dollars.”
The U.S. president also said he planned to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the wildfire situation.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, there were 955 active wildfires across Canada as of 5:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, including 191 in Ontario.
Ford described conditions in the province as a “terrible scenario,” noting that approximately 655,000 hectares (about 2,528 square miles) were burning.
“It’s a massive issue,” he said. “My heart breaks for the people who’ve lost their homes or their camps and their businesses.”
More than 100 million people in the United States were under air quality alerts as smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota drifted across the Midwest and East Coast, carrying fine particulate matter that can pose significant health risks.
Republican lawmakers have also criticized the Canadian government, arguing it has failed to do enough to prevent wildfires from igniting and spreading.
Ford rejected those claims, pointing to Canada’s support for the United States during previous wildfire emergencies.
When the U.S. needed help, Ontario has always been there – because that’s what neighbours do. pic.twitter.com/SFtXc34Zf3
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 19, 2026
“That’s what neighbors do, right?” he said, recalling that Canadian hydro workers and water bombers assisted firefighting efforts in California, Georgia and South Carolina last year. He added that Canadians would respond “without hesitation” if the situation were reversed.
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