Canada's Steel Industry Recognizes Local Industry Champion

MP James Rajotte Recognized as a "Man of Steel"

EDMONTON, May 15 /CNW/ - Canada's steel industry today recognized James Rajotte, federal Member of Parliament (Edmonton-Leduc) for his strong support of Canada's steel industry.

"The steel industry contributes in a big way to this community," said Rajotte. "It's an industry that creates four spin-off jobs for every single job in steel, and I am proud to support an industry that is so important to the Edmonton region's economy."

Rajotte is one of a number of Canadians recognized as a "Man of Steel" for his efforts in supporting and promoting Canada's new steel industry. This event is part of the CSPA's "New Steel" campaign to demonstrate that the steel industry is more innovative, greener, and more important than ever at the national and local level.

"Canadians need to realize the significant transformation that steel has undergone,"said Chris Jager, President of AltaSteel in Edmonton. "It is one of the most important and progressive industries in Canada, and throughout the world. We are working to ensure that Canadians appreciate how essential steel is to Alberta and Canada, now and into the future."

AltaSteel employs more than 450 people. Since 2001, it has invested over $100 million in innovation and new facilities. AltaSteel is a key supplier of specialty steels for the grinding of ore in mines across North America. All of the materials involved in this production are recycled, making AltaSteel one of the largest recyclers in Western Canada.

"Tenaris' innovation plays an important role in Alberta's oil and gas industry," said Alberto Iperti, CSPA Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Tenaris Canada. "The steel pipes and connections that we've developed make it possible for oil and gas operators to increase production in new areas like oils sands and shale gas."

CSPA's New Steel campaign aims to close the gap between outdated perceptions of the industry and the reality that Canada's new steel industry has made tremendous achievements that position it in the top tier of product quality, productivity and environmental responsibility.

Brains

Approximately 30,000 people are employed in Canada's new steel industry. These jobs increasingly require men and women with post-secondary degrees in engineering, science, and advanced industrial trades. The highly skilled steel workforce, combined with hundreds of millions of dollars invested in new technologies, has seen the productivity of Canada's steel industry outpace the national economy over the past decade.

The Best Material

Steel industry innovation continues to generate new advanced grades of steel, many of which are thinner, lighter and stronger. New steels are enabling new developments in key sectors ranging from oil and gas to mining to automotive.

Canadian steelmakers have also made strong improvements in their own environmental performance, reducing the energy required per ton of production by more than 25% over the past two decades. Not only is steel leaner, but greener as well. Steel is an exceptional material - it is the most recycled material in the world, and can be recycled repeatedly without loss of strength. Canada's steel sector recycled almost 8 million tonnes of steel in 2008.

Backbone

Steel is the backbone of Canadian manufacturing, essential to the industrial, transportation, construction, energy and natural resources sectors. It generated as many as 120,000 direct and indirect Canadian jobs in 2008, supporting a network of suppliers and distributors. Steel is one of the most widely used materials in the world. It's all around us, in everything from appliances to packaging. Rarely a day goes by when we don't see or feel steel.

"New steel is important to Canada's future. It stands for brains and backbone. It's the best material for so many applications," said CSPA President Ron Watkins "It's an industry that has been transformed in Canada and around the world. Steel is a progressive industry that plays an essential role in the lives of all Canadians."

The Canadian Steel Producers Association is the voice of Canada's new steel producers. The member companies of the CSPA produced over 15 million metric tons of steel in 2008 from 13 facilities in five provinces. To learn more about the CSPA and New Steel, please visit: http://www.canadiansteel.ca/index.php/en/about

STEEL MAKES CANADA STRONGER

For further information: Danna O'Brien, Playbook Communications, [email protected], (c) [phone]; Ron Watkins, President, Canadian Steel Producers Association, [phone]