Doug Ford says he had no role in Brampton firm’s ICE armoured-vehicle contract
Premier Doug Ford told reporters his government did not direct Roshel’s sale of armoured vehicles to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after NDP criticism.
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By Torontoer Staff
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday his government had no role in a Brampton defence manufacturer's sale of armoured vehicles to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after renewed criticism prompted by recent shootings in the United States.
The exchange followed a social media post and a statement from NDP leader Marit Stiles calling for Ontario to end manufacturing ties with ICE. Ford rejected suggestions he or his government had steered the deal, and blamed social media for confusion about his previous comments.
What Ford said at the news conference
Asked about criticism of the contract between Brampton-based Roshel and ICE, Ford said he was not involved. He repeated that he did not direct companies to sell military or security equipment abroad, and said the provincial government does not control cross-border private business deals.
I don’t direct companies to go sell military vehicles down south or around the world. I don’t know where this came from to be very frank with you. It is on social media and that. We all know that everything that is on social media is 100 per cent accurate. It is a terrible, terrible thing that social media.
Doug Ford
Ford also pointed out that the province did not purchase the vehicles, and compared the situation to a manufacturer selling unrelated products abroad. He said provincial authority does not extend to international trade decisions made by private companies.
The criticism from the NDP
NDP leader Marit Stiles shared a clip of Ford from December in which he called the Roshel deal "fantastic" and suggested it demonstrated the firm's capacity to take orders from around the world. Stiles used the clip to urge an end to Ontario manufacturing links with ICE after the shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota.
It is indefensible for Ontario to be selling armoured vehicles to ICE.
Marit Stiles, NDP leader
Stiles framed the issue as a matter of principle, saying that ICE has been implicated in aggressive enforcement actions and expressing disappointment that Ford previously celebrated the contract. The clip circulated on social platforms, drawing attention to Ford’s earlier praise.
The contract and the company
The Canadian Press has reported that the U.S. government awarded a sole-sourced contract to Roshel for 20 Senator STANG emergency response tactical vehicles, worth about C$10 million. Procurement documents reviewed by The Canadian Press said only Roshel met the requirements to support agents in the field and could deliver within a 30-day timeline.
Only Roshel met the requirements for vehicles needed to support agents in the field and could complete the order within a 30 day timeline.
Procurement documents, reported by The Canadian Press
Roshel is a privately held defence and security manufacturer based in Brampton. The company supplies armoured and tactical vehicles to domestic and international clients, including governments and law enforcement agencies.
Why the provincial government says it is not involved
Provincial governments do not regulate or approve private firms' export contracts with foreign agencies. Trade and exports are subject to federal oversight and export controls, while private companies negotiate sales and supply agreements independently.
Ford reiterated that the province did not buy the vehicles and therefore had no authority over where a private company sells its products. He used the example of a can manufacturer to make the point that a sale abroad would not be a matter for the provincial cabinet.
Next steps and public reaction
The controversy is likely to keep drawing attention to how defence and security manufacturers in Ontario engage with foreign agencies. Critics will press federal and provincial officials for clarity on export controls and corporate responsibility. Supporters of the company say fulfilling contracts demonstrates the capacity of local manufacturing and contributes to jobs.
- Roshel, a Brampton-based firm, was awarded a sole-sourced U.S. contract for 20 tactical vehicles.
- The contract is worth about C$10 million, according to The Canadian Press.
- Premier Ford says the provincial government did not direct or approve the sale.
- NDP leader Marit Stiles says Ontario should stop manufacturing ties with ICE.
The debate highlights a tension between private-sector trade, public concern about how equipment is used abroad, and political leaders' public comments. It also shows how social media clips can shape political disputes long after an original remark was made.
For now, Ford has closed the loop from his perspective, saying he had no hand in the deal and that responsibility for export decisions rests outside provincial jurisdiction. The broader questions about export rules and corporate accountability remain under public scrutiny.
Doug FordRoshelICEBramptonexport controls
