Ontario minister charged trade mission meals to riding association instead of government

Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, has been charged with billing his riding association for trade mission meals exceeding $21,000, despite expensing tens of thousands of dollars for official government-related travel expenses, according to public records. Fedeli, who was tasked with attracting billions in new investment, traveled to multiple international destinations in 2023 to meet with automotive industry leaders, including Germany, France, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.

Public records show that between 2023 and 2025, Fedeli expensed over $180,000 for government-related trade missions, covering flight, hotel, and transportation costs. However, the Progressive Conservative Party stated that these meal and incidental expenses were partially paid by Fedeli's local Nipissing riding association. The party claimed that this reimbursement system had saved taxpayers over $90,000 in per diems over the past two years.

Fedeli previously told a legislative committee that his organization avoids expensing meals, stating, "We are a very, very lean machine." However, Fedeli's Nipissing riding association expenses show thousands of dollars in international travel charges, with little information on the actual expenses. The Progressive Conservative Party insisted that Fedeli funded his own travel meal expenses personally and that no portion was used for the minister.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles raised questions about the transparency of the accounting, suggesting that the party is trying to hide costs. Stiles questioned the business being conducted during these international meetings and why they were being covered on the political side rather than the government side. Opposition parties emphasized the need for transparency and accountability regarding the minister's out-of-country travel expenses.