Posted March 13, 2026 2:20 pm 4 min read SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. Days after U.S. President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced the deal with SpaceX to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 households and businesses in northern and rural Ontario. Ford posted about the deal on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, who responded with “cool.” Musk went to great lengths to support Trump’s presidential bid. Two senior Ontario government sources said in November 2024 the Starlink deal was, in part, seen as a positive move designed to appease Trump’s inner circle. At the time, Ford supported Trump. Ford was later caught on a hot mic at a campaign event for a snap Ontario election he called for February 2025, saying he was initially happy Trump won the presidential election before souring on him due to his threats to annex Canada through “economic” force. Get breaking National news Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. As Trump’s threats against Canada ratcheted up that month, Ford threatened to cancel the Starlink deal. The premier said he believed Ontario would not have to pay anything to get out of it. “(Trump) broke a deal, he broke a trade deal and I think we have a very, very good case if it goes to court,” Ford said at the time. “So even in that case, I don’t care if there’s a fine or whatever, but I think we’re going to win it.” Story continues below advertisement The sources, who were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about the deal, said the Starlink system was the only one that could be operational within months of signing the deal – and had proven its technology after a trial run in Pikangikum First Nation in 2020. SpaceX won the competitive bid, the province said at the time, and planned to be operational by June 2025. The program – dubbed ONSAT, which stands for Ontario Satellite Internet – would have covered equipment and installation costs, but not monthly user fees. The deal would also guarantee internet coverage priority over the average paying Starlink customer. Remote First Nations in northern Ontario were set to benefit the most from the deal. First Nations and mining exploration companies across northern Ontario are now using Starlink on their own dime to connect to the grid. The province is also laying fibre-optic cable throughout remote First Nations in northern Ontario and vast parts of rural Ontario. More on Politics