WYNNE ON STEEL
The premier, placing third in polls, says she’s the best-equipped to handle American trade negotiations
Liberal leader visits Hamilton to position herself as champion for steelworkers
PREMIER KATHLEEN Wynne stopped at Stelco Wednesday morning to warn Ontarians that a vote for Andrea Horwath or Doug Ford is a vote against steel jobs.
Wynne, who is placing third in the polls, said she’s the best candidate to handle the increasingly delicate trade relationship with the U.S. given the looming threat of new tariffs on steel and aluminum.
“With the tension and uncertainty around NAFTA, I’ve been spending a lot more time in the United States than I might have expected to in this job,” she said.
“And that’s because Ontario workers needed me there — needed us to be there to be standing up for jobs and businesses, like Stelco.”
Appearing in Horwath’s home riding, Wynne pointed out that Canada’s exemption from new American tariffs on steel and aluminum expires June 1.
She said the new “wave of protectionism” ushered in by U.S. President Donald Trump won’t change her commitment to fight for the 16,000 steel jobs in the province.
Wynne’s announcement, though well-placed in the heart of Hamilton’s manufacturing core, tackles a subject that could be difficult for voters to absorb — especially when contrasted with some of her rivals’ campaign promises (particularly Ford’s pledge to bring back “buck a beer.”)
But Wynne says her focus is simple: Jobs.
“You can’t buy a beer for a buck, or any other amount, if you don’t have a job,” she said.
Wynne cast herself as the middle ground between her rivals, arguing Ford is too close to Trump, while the NDP has taken a “rigid and impractical position” against free trade.
“When voters go to the polls on June 7, they’re going to be choosing a person to lead them who will be in very tricky, very delicate negotiations with U.S. officials,” she said.
“That’s the reality of the role of premier, it’s that you find yourself — and you put yourself — into those very challenging conversations.”
“On the one hand, you have Doug Ford, he’s expressed his admiration for Donald Trump, despite the chaos and the uncertainty that the Trump administration has caused Ontario.
“And on the other extreme, you have the NDP, who has historically campaigned against free trade agreements.”
MPP Ted McMeekin, facing a tough re-election fight in Hamilton WestA-ncaster-Dundas, said Wynne’s efforts “literally saved the (steel) industry.”
“I couldn’t see Andrea Horwath, with her wellknown sentiments about free trade and not understanding the complexity of the agreements, getting on a plane and going south to talk to congressional leaders and congressmen and governors.
“That just wouldn’t happen,” said McMeekin.
“We’ve got a leader that made it happen.”