Latest news with #VicFedeli
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Nipissing First Nation leads rally against Ontario's Bill 5
About 70 people gathered before MPP Vic Fedeli's office on North Bay's Main Street today to protest the province's proposed Bill 5. Nipissing First Nation (NFN) organized the event. Bill 5, the Unleashing Our Economy Act, is designed to fast-track economic development and holds many amendments to the Environmental Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. NFN is concerned that this expedited process will reduce opportunities for consultation between the province and First Nations. 'Bill 5 is new legislation that could harm our land, weaken environmental protections, and ignore our Treaty rights. It was created without proper consultation with Indigenous peoples. This is not right and we must speak out,' NFN explained in a release. The demonstration was part of a larger day of protest, as many First Nations throughout the province took part. See: Ontario PCs to limit debate on controversial Bill 5, among other legislation NFN's Chief, Cathy Stevens, attended a rally against the Bill at Queen's Park, so she could not attend the local protest. In a statement, Chief Stevens said, 'The changes proposed in Bill 5 threaten not only our rights but our identity.' The chief continued, 'The land holds the stories of our ancestors, reaching back over 13,000 years. This Bill does not protect Ontario. It protects profit. If Ontario truly values its past and its future, it must remove these exemptions and work with First Nations to protect what cannot be replaced.' Vic Fedeli, the Minister of Economic Development, was not at his North Bay office this morning. However, in an email to BayToday, Fedeli emphasized the importance of Bill 5 to keep Ontario competitive. He wrote, 'Now more than ever, it is important for Ontario to remain competitive in the global race to attract and maintain job-creating investments. If projects are going to take ten years to get shovels in the ground, Ontario will lose out on billions of dollars of new investment to other jurisdictions.' Fedeli continued, 'The proposed legislation is about unlocking Ontario's true economic potential, not overriding Indigenous rights, environmental safeguards, or existing labour laws.' See: Ford government's plan for 'Indigenous-led' zones under Bill 5 'too late,' leaders say Cameron Welch, the Director of Lands, Natural Resources, and Economic Development for NFN, is concerned that unlocking that economic potential will come at great cost to the environment, and relations between the province and First Nations. Welch said, given the current climate with tariff threats from the US, 'I'm concerned the provincial government is using some of that uncertainty and people's anxiousness to really gut important safeguards in provincial legislation.' 'I wonder if they are using this [economic] uncertainty, and these difficult times to advance their own interests, at the expense of not only the environment but also the Treaty relationship,' Welch added. For Welch, the danger of Bill 5 is that it creates special economic zones, 'And within these zones, as we understand it, the safeguards in terms of calling for environmental review, and all of those pieces that go along with project approval, will be essentially removed.' If those zones are created, 'At what stage during that process does the consultation and accommodation of Indigenous rights come in? We're concerned that this might strike at the very basis of the Treaty arrangement, where you have one side of the Treaty unilaterally declaring we're going to go ahead with this project.' Yvette Bellefeuille, an NFN councillor, agreed with Welch that the province is taking advantage of an opportunity. 'They are overreaching. They're not including consultations with First Nations in the development of this Bill, and it impacts them. A lot of the lands the Ontario Government is trying to grab is First Nation land.' David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ford government reacts to latest U.S. tariff twist, vowing to protect Ontario workers
Social Sharing Ontario government officials say the province remains committed to protecting workers and the economy, after a U.S. court quashed some of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down Trump's 10 per cent tariff on most countries and his 25 per cent tariffs on numerous Canadian and Mexican goods, leaving the tariffs on steel and aluminum in place. "The signals from the courts, you couldn't categorize them as good news or bad news," said Vic Fedeli, the minister of economic development, job creation and trade, at a news conference on Thursday. Fedeli says the court's decision is simply the most recent development in the daily "twists and turns" of tariffs, and that the provincial government will continue its efforts to keep Ontario workers in high-value jobs. Fedeli spoke alongside Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy about the government's latest efforts to boost Ontario's economy and protect its workers. Bethlenfalvy also said the province's number one goal with regard to the tariffs is keeping workers safe. "We want no tariffs. We want all workers [protected]. We are protecting our economy so we can keep people working, keep them in business, and support business and support families," he said. Province says mining project needed amid tariff threat Bethlenfalvy says that's why Ontario government is spending $500 million to create a new critical minerals processing fund. The fund will support projects that speed up the province's critical minerals processing capacity and made-in-Ontario supply chain, according to a Thursday news release. Minerals mined in Ontario will be processed in the province by Ontario workers, the release says. "We're investing to unlock and process these resources right here in Ontario, securing good-paying jobs and building resilient communities for the future," Bethlenfalvy said in the same news release. The $500 million investment comes as Ford's government is pushing ahead with the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, or Bill 5, which it says will speed up the approval of mining projects in Ontario. Critics say tariffs not a legitimate reason for project However, critics say the province is using the threat of tariffs as an excuse to loosen environmental regulations on the industry, as the legislation includes major changes to the province's endangered species and environmental protection laws. Jamie Kneen, national program co-lead for Mining Watch Canada, a non-profit advocacy group, previously told CBC Toronto it's undemocratic for the government to give itself the power to exclude mines in special economic zones from environmental regulations. He questions whether tariffs are a legitimate reason to reduce regulatory oversight of the mining sector. "They're just using this as a pretext for doing what they wanted to do already and hoping that people won't notice that the two are not really connected," Kneen said. Bethlenfalvy says both the federal and provincial governments are "very unified" on combatting tariffs and promoting economic growth for Canada and Ontario. Fedeli said it's "discouraging" to hear Trump say the U.S. doesn't need Canada, when over half of the nickel that the U.S. uses for its aerospace and defence sectors comes from Ontario. The province will continue mining and processing critical minerals, Fedeli said, sending the U.S. a "powerful signal."
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘The latest twist:' Ontario's economic development minister reacts to U.S. court ruling on tariffs
Vic Fedeli, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, is shown in this file photo. Ontario's economic development minister minimized the importance of a ruling by a U.S. court that temporarily blocked some of President Donald Trump's tarrifs just hours before the ruling was overturned on Thursday. Vic Fedeli made the comment to reporters during an unrelated news conference on Thursday morning. The ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday effectively blocked the so-called 'Liberation Day' duties on countries around the world, as well as the tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China that Trump has said are related to fentanyl. But by Thursday afternoon, a U.S. federal appeals court had reinstated Trump's sweeping tariffs, providing no reasons for its decision. 'It is just the latest twist in what is happening with the tariffs, but very specifically section 232 as it's called, that did not get affected yesterday. That is steel, that is aluminum and that is auto tariffs. So, the main three—nothing has changed,' Fedeli said earlier in the day, prior to the reversal. It should be noted that Trump had already agreed to provide an exemption from the sweeping tariffs for goods that are compliant with an existing North American free trade pact (CUSMA). Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Fedeli insisted that the legal wrangling in the courts won't change Ontario's approach. 'We will continue on a daily basis meting with senators, meeting with members of congress, meeting with the ways and means committee, meeting with the finance committee, meeting with the U.S. trade representative and continuing to talk about how integrated our two economies are and that when we work together on these things, we are stronger,' he said. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier on Thursday that he welcomed the U.S. court decision, but stressed Canada's 'trading relationship with the United States is still profoundly and adversely threatened' by 'unjustified' tariffs on steel, aluminum and the auto sector. There are more than 100,000 direct jobs related to Ontario's auto sector and officials have expressed concerns that the tariffs on automobiles could put some of those jobs at risk.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘The latest twist:' Ontario's economic development minister reacts to U.S. court ruling on tariffs
Vic Fedeli, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, is shown in this file photo. Ontario's economic development minister is minimizing the importance of a ruling by a U.S. court that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to implement widescale tariffs using the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. Vic Fedeli made the comment to reporters during an unrelated news conference on Thursday morning. 'It is just the latest twist in what is happening with the tariffs, but very specifically section 232 as it's called, that did not get affected yesterday. That is steel, that is aluminum and that is auto tariffs. So, the main three—nothing has changed,' Fedeli said. The ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade effectively blocks the so-called 'Liberation Day' duties on countries around the world, as well as the tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China that Trump has said are related to fentanyl. However, it should be noted that Trump had already agreed to provide an exemption from those tariffs for goods that are compliant with an existing North American free trade pact (CUSMA). Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Fedeli said the decision amounts to 'the latest twist' in the trade war with the U.S. and won't change Ontario's approach. 'We will continue on a daily basis meting with senators, meeting with members of congress, meeting with the ways and means committee, meeting with the finance committee, meeting with the U.S. trade representative and continuing to talk about how integrated our two economies are and that when we work together on these things, we are stronger,' he said. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier on Thursday that he 'welcomes' the U.S. court decision, but stressed Canada's 'trading relationship with the United States is still profoundly and adversely threatened' by 'unjustified' tariffs on steel, aluminum and the auto sector. There are more than 100,000 direct jobs related to Ontario's auto sector and officials have expressed concerns that the tariffs on automobiles could put some of those jobs at risk.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Northern Ontario film industry weighs in on possible U.S. tariffs
People in the film industry in northern Ontario are monitoring statements from the U.S. president with some concern. U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to impose 100 per cent tariffs on movies produced outside the country. Trump, in a Truth Social post on Sunday night, said he directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to "immediately begin the process" of imposing the tariff. So far, he hasn't signed an executive order on the topic. Trump wrote that other countries "are offering all sorts of incentives to draw out filmmakers and studios away from the United States." "Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A, are being divested," he wrote. It's a message not being well received by Ontario politicians. On Monday, Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, said the province will "suit up against yet another assault," in response. "This is a direct assault to our film sector all through Ontario," he said. Ontario has invested heavily in the film and television industry, offering tax credits to help with the costs of production. Additional support is available for productions being done in northern Ontario through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. 'Closely monitoring the situation' Janine Oloman runs a talent agency called 46th Parallel Management in Sudbury. She represents about 100 actors who work across Canada. Oloman said friction between the countries would be bad for the industry. "The whole U.S.-Canada relationship is so important to the film industry because the films and television shows that are made here usually have creative teams that are composed of both Americans and Canadians," she said. Several American productions are produced in northern Ontario, which is something Alex Green with White Owl Film Studios in Wahnapitae First Nation, north of Sudbury, said could be impacted. "So I think things like Hallmarks and the things that we service from out of country are potentially going to be affected," he said. "But that's all the more reason to foster our own intellectual property and our own creatives." When asked for comment, the union that represents film workers in northern Ontario provided CBC with a statement. "At this time, we are closely monitoring the situation following President Trump's announcement, but we do not yet have enough information to provide a detailed comment on how this will impact northern Ontario specifically," said Tiffany Boivin-Brawley, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 634 president. "The union's official statement calls for a balanced federal response that strengthens U.S. competitiveness without harming Canadian members or the industry overall." She was referring to an earlier statement made by her union, that said President Trump "correctly recognized" the "foreign" threats to the American film industry, but made clear it was looking for solutions that didn't lead to the "disadvantaging of our Canadian members."
