Trudeau coming to the Sault next week in support of our steel industry

By
Canadian Press
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18
Justin Trudeau

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau intends next week to tour regions of the country that are heavily reliant on the steel and aluminum industries in a show of solidarity for those who would be hurt the most by the imposition of stiff U.S. tariffs.

A spokesman says the prime minister is cutting short planned family time during the March break to undertake the tour, which is to begin Monday in Alma, Que., home to one of Rio Tinto’s seven aluminum smelters in the province.

On Tuesday, he is to visit Hamilton, where the head of Steeltown’s chamber of commerce has predicted the tariffs could put 40,000 jobs in jeopardy, and Sault Ste. Marie, where Algoma Steel is the city’s largest employer.

He is to head Wednesday to Regina, where Evraz Steel — which bills itself as the largest steel company in western Canada — has operations.

Prime ministerial spokesman Cameron Ahmad says Trudeau plans to meet with workers, business leaders, industry leaders and union leaders to demonstrate his support for those who may be affected by the tariffs.

Ahmad says Trudeau will be making the point that the Canadian and American industries are deeply integrated and any disruption to that would be costly to business and consumers on both sides of the border.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, with details expected to be unveiled Thursday.

The Trudeau government has been lobbying aggressively for Canada to be excluded from the tariffs, but there have been conflicting signals from the White House about the possibility of any exemptions. Trump himself has said an exemption for Canada and Mexico is possible if negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement are concluded to his satisfaction.

Ahmad would not speculate on whether Trudeau’s tour will proceed if Canada wins an exemption.

Canada is the biggest supplier of steel imported by the U.S. each year. But Canada is also the biggest foreign buyer of American steel.

The Canadian Steel Producers Association says trade in steel between Canada and the U.S. was worth $12 billion in 2017 and was “evenly balanced” between the two countries.

The Canadian Press

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18 COMMENTS

  4. Lets encourage Trudeau to stop by the ESSAR offices and have a chat with the boys about paying their taxes. THAT would be more useful than anything he could possibly say and do.

  6. I will see if my schedule fits it in.
    Like JT he fits thins in whenever the situation suits. Poor baby has to cut his vacation time short with his family. Well it’s about time JT try’s to do something for Canada instead of every other country in the Far East. Lastly likely needed a map of Canada to see where Sault Ste. Marie is located.

  10. You can’t do any good here, stay home ya brainless brown noser, photo op chaser. We don’t need to foot the bill for any more traveling on your part. How about admit that you are incompetent and resign, now that would make everyone very happy about something you did, for a change.

  12. Libs and cons have the same playbook except cons like to withhold rights from people, like women, LGBTQ2, and scientists! Shake it up. Send a Green to Queens Park. We are not tied to big money, businesses, unions, individuals.

  14. Omg! Is gonna bring family? Maybe drive dowm McNabb St to the Golden Palace in his 4x4Suv. Maybe see Algoma Steel.. aka Essar Steel. Maybe on way back, take a ride or a walk thro Jamestown..

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