Vic Fedeli was in Washington, D.C. on Monday for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
Fedeli, Nipissing MPP and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade was part of the Ontario delegation for Donald Trump's presidential inauguration event.
The Trillium, a partner of BayToday, reported that the delegation included Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Fedeli, along with executives from the automotive, mining, and energy industries, as well as some union leaders.
The event took a significant turn for Canadian politicians at the event as President Donald Trump suggested his administration could move ahead with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports on Feb. 1.
Premier Ford had stated the tariffs could cost Ontario 500,000 jobs.
“Our government remains focused on avoiding U.S. tariffs, but should they be implemented, Ontario is prepared to use every tool at our disposal to respond," said Fedeli in an email to BayToday.
"We will continue to be relentless in our advocacy for Ontario’s businesses and workers, as we continue to remind the U.S. that when we work together, both of our economies succeed and good-paying jobs get created on both sides of the border.”
See related: Trump signals 25 per cent tarifs on Canadian Imports could be coming Feb. 1
Trump delivered the news on Monday evening at the White House as he signed a stack of unrelated executive orders.
"We are thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they are allowing a vast number of people, Canada is a very bad abuser also, vast numbers of people to come in and Fentanyl to come in," he told reporters Monday night.
With files from the Canadian Press
