Valeri represents a riding in Hamilton, Ontario. He is a graduate of Hamilton's McMaster University and lived there while he served as President of Canadian Financial Group Ltd. He first ran for office in the 1993 election and won easily in he Liberal sweep of Ontario.
Valeri served as a backbencher and member of a number of parliamentary committees before on December 12, 2003 being appointed to the Cabinet by incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Valeri is known for his close ties to industry and business, and his appointment ot the transport portfolio was viewed positively by this group.
In 2004 the Hamilton area was redistricted . Valeri's riding was split in two. The other Hamilton area MPs shifted to the eastward half of their ridings, Valeri has decided to run in the western half, however. This has produced a nomination battle with former cabinet heavyweight and now backbencher Sheila Copps. Many accuse Martin of orchestrating these events to try to expel the left leaning Copps from the House of Commons. Especially striking is that Valeri does not actually live in the riding he is trying to win. Valeria argues that he is running against Copps because the riding to the east contains a number of rural areas, which he does not want to have to represent.