BayToday.ca has learned that Vic Fedeli, Nipissing MPP and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade for the province of Ontario is part of the Ontario delegation in Washington, D.C. attending Donald Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony.
The Trillium, a partner of BayToday.ca and the Village Media family, reported that a delegation from Ontario has headed down to Washington, D.C for the inauguration which includes Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Economic Development Minister Fedeli, along with executives from the automotive, mining and energy industries, as well as some union leaders.
Lecce said the group will “make the case that we are fundamentally stronger together with this vision of a fortress Am-Can and an unstoppable energy alliance.”
Fedeli's office has confirmed his attendance and Fedeli will provide a post-inauguration comment on Tuesday.
Donald Trump was inaugurated today and begins his second term as president of the United States.
He will also be in a position to make good on his threat of imposing a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods — one of 100 executive orders he reportedly plans to sign in his first days in office.
On Sunday, the premier issued a statement pre-emptively offering “congratulations” to Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance, while once again stressing that an “unnecessary trade and tariff war started by the U.S. will only benefit China and Chinese-backed companies by creating the kind of economic uncertainty and conditions for them to continue to rip off American and Canadian workers.”
“Make no mistake, I am ready to protect Ontario workers, businesses, and families,” said Ford, promising that Ontario is ready to support federal tariffs.
“If necessary, we are ready with additional retaliatory measures within provincial jurisdiction that can support escalation over time,” he added.