TIMMINS - MPP-elect George Pirie’s office is remaining silent on the issue of tariffs.
With Canada and the United States amid a trade war, TimminsToday reached out to local politicians to talk about the local impacts. Last week, Pirie’s office said the newly re-elected Timmins MPP could talk on the matter this week, but has since changed its stance.
In an email to TimminsToday on Thursday (March 13), Pirie’s executive assistant Matthew Quirion said Pirie “is not commenting” and that Premier Doug Ford’s office “is best positioned to answer and continue to answer and comment on the situation.”
Pirie also declined to speak with media throughout his campaign.
On election night (Feb. 27), Pirie did address concerns about U.S. trade policies, stating that his government would stand firm against economic threats posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We’ve got a president that would be quite willing to destroy the economy of Canada, of Northern Ontario, and of Timmins,” Pirie said on election night.
“We’re just not going to let that happen.”
Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau told TimminsToday last week that city staff are reviewing contracts with American suppliers to assess potential cost impacts on municipal purchasing.
SEE: ‘Ever-changing’ tariff war poses uncertainty for Timmins, says mayor
While no local businesses have reported significant disruptions yet, Boileau said the city is monitoring the forestry sector closely, as it could be more vulnerable.
The trade dispute has escalated since the provincial election night.
On March 12 the Trump administration implemented a 25 per cent tariff on global steel and aluminum imports.
Ford is in Washington, D.C., today for a meeting he negotiated in exchange for suspending Ontario’s 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota, which had been imposed on Monday.
In his first term as Timmins MPP, Pirie was also the Minister of Mines.
What the new cabinet will look like isn’t known yet. Ford and his new cabinet members are being sworn in on March 19. The provincial legislature returns on April 14.