Ontario’s payout to Elon Musk over cancelled Starlink contract to remain secret
Written by The Canadian Press on March 13, 2026
TORONTO — The Canadian Press has learned Ontario’s payout to Elon Musk’s SpaceX over a cancelled Starlink contract will remain a secret.
The province says it has negotiated a confidential settlement on the cancellation of what was set to be a $100-million deal.
Premier Doug Ford’s office says the kill fee is “significantly less than the contract value.”
Ford said earlier this week he did not know the amount, but would confirm it.
His office later said that was not possible due to the confidential settlement.
Liberal parliamentary Leader John Fraser says taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money was sent to the billionaire Musk.
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 just days after Trump won the 2024 election.
Ford later killed the deal over Trump’s tariffs against Canada.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2026.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press