‘The election was in March \u2014 there’s been time to plan for it. Now is the time to put those plans into action,’ Sault mayor said<\/p>\n
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said the layoffs announced Dec. 1 at Algoma Steel demonstrate the \u201cprofound and escalating threat\u201d of U.S. tariffs on the steel industry and the city,\u00a0as well as the need for action.<\/p>\n
With a complement of 2,516 workers as of Oct. 31, over 1,000 positions \u2014\u00a0around 40 per cent of the steel plant\u2019s workforce \u2014\u00a0are set to be furloughed by March 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s an obvious consequence of six months of 50 per cent steel tariffs, and this really shines a light on the need to get the tariff deal done \u2014\u00a0yesterday,\u201d the mayor said.<\/p>\n While around 1,000 job losses were expected in the next few years,\u00a0as Algoma Steel transitions to electric arc furnace production,\u00a0Monday\u2019s announcement demonstrates the need for swift action from the federal government, Shoemaker said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe election was in March \u2014\u00a0there’s been time to plan for it. Now is the time to put those plans into action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Amid crushing U.S. tariffs, Algoma Steel reported a staggering $652 million operational loss during the third quarter of the year,\u00a0a figure that eclipses last year\u2019s operational loss of $83.6 million during the same quarter.<\/p>\n Federal plans have been made to use Canadian products in domestic projects, but Shoemaker said the steel industry\u2019s future relies on those plans turning into steel orders.<\/p>\n \u201cThe industry and the mills \u2014\u00a0Algoma specifically \u2014\u00a0need those orders now in order to ensure their continued viability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Now would also be an opportune time to turn plans for the Port of Algoma into a reality,\u00a0something the mayor mentioned to both Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney in letters written following yesterday’s news.<\/p>\n