With Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. president just a day away, many politicians from around the world are travelling to Washington to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20. The event, originally scheduled to be held on the Capitol steps, was moved indoors due to forecasts of extremely cold weather.
Trudeau and Cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t attend as he will be holding a cabinet retreat on that same day in preparation for possible tariffs, which could be imposed on day one of Trump’s presidency.Trump said in late November that he would impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian imports if the country does not take adequate steps to improve border security and stop the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigrants into the United States.
The cabinet retreat will run from Jan. 20–21 in the Outaouais region in Quebec, with a focus on “defending Canadian interests and strengthening Canada-U.S. relations.”
Two cabinet members, however, are expected to turn up for Trump’s inauguration: Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Trade Minister Mary Ng.
Champagne has been connecting with U.S. politicians and businesses since early 2024 in his role as co-lead of Ottawa’s Team Canada strategy. On Jan. 16, he visited Michigan and met with Governor Gretchen Whitmer to discuss the future of the two countries’ economies.
“Michigan is one of the best example of what Canada and the United States can achieve,” he posted on social media platform X on Jan. 17.
Ng, the other Team Canada co-lead, was in New Jersey and New York last week where she met with business leaders and state government officials.
Premiers
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is planning to attend the inauguration, and is already in Washington. According to her itinerary released on Jan. 17, she will be in the U.S. capital for five days, during which she plans to meet with U.S. governors and industry leaders and attend Trump’s inauguration.“Given the serious threats of tariffs, it is imperative that we do everything we can to engage directly with the incoming administration, members of Congress and key officials to emphasize Alberta’s critical role in North American energy security and economic prosperity,” Smith said in a statement.
The Alberta premier also visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Jan. 11 and in his golf resort on 12. After the visit, she commented on X of the “friendly and constructive conversation” she had with the president-elect and stressed the need for both nations to “grow this critical partnership for the benefit of Canadians and Americans for generations to come.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said earlier this month that he received an invitation to the inauguration, and would attend on Jan. 20. His office confirmed on Jan. 15 that the invitation was from Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, and the Canadian American Business Council. All Canadian premiers were invited to the inauguration.
Furey, whose province exports seafood, oil, and gas to the United States, said in a recent post on X that he would work to safeguard those sectors.
“We are taking a Team Canada approach to the president-elect’s tariff threat, working together to protect key trade relationships,” he said on Jan. 15.
Provincial Ministers
Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli are likely to head to D.C. with Premier Doug Ford’s “Fortress Am-Can” proposal in hand. The proposal aims to build out the integrated Am-Can energy and electricity grid to encourage more exports of Canadian energy and electricity to the United States, resulting in more jobs in both countries, Ford said at a press conference on Jan. 8.Ford also warned last week that if the proposed tariffs materialize, it would cost up to half a million jobs in his province.
Quebec’s International Relations Minister Martine Biron will also be heading to Washington. In an X post on Jan. 17, she said she would meet with the province’s U.S. partners and “assert the interests that the US and QC share.”
“Our priority is clear: avoiding tariffs,” she said.
Biron is scheduled to attend an inauguration day reception hosted by Ambassador Hillman.
Parliamentarians
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani said he would be attending the inauguration and that it would be “a special moment” for him to watch his friend J.D. Vance sworn in as U.S. vice-president on Jan. 20. Jivani and Vance both attended Yale Law School starting in 2010.Members of the Canada-U.S. interparliamentary group are also invited. Liberal MP John McKay, co-chair of the group, confirmed to The Epoch Times that he and other members of the parliamentary group, which consists of MPs and senators, are planning to attend.
Andrew Chen, Chandra Philip, Matthew Horwood and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
