Minister Blair announces support for over 600 steel workers in northern Ontario and Alberta

Government of Canada fulfilling its commitment to support Canadian steel workers

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, July 26, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada stands with hard-working steel and aluminum workers, their families and their communities. The Government is delivering on its commitment to support Canadian steel producers and workers.

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced a $16-million investment in a $36.3-million project that will create 88 jobs and maintain 516 more in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and in Calgary, Alberta.

This investment will help Tenaris upgrade its Algoma Tubes seamless mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and its Prudential welded mill in Calgary, Alberta, to improve mill performance and product capabilities. These upgrades will enable the company to provide Canada's energy sector with more innovative product offerings, including expanded capacity to produce steel grades with a high resistance to corrosion, for drilling and extraction.  

The Government's investments in Canada's world-class steel and aluminum producers—such as EVRAZ, Algoma Steel Inc., ArcelorMittal, Elysis (an Alcoa Corporation and Rio Tinto Aluminum joint venture), Alcoa Deschambault Aluminerie (in French), Aluminerie Alouette and Nova Tube Inc.—are ensuring that they continue to provide thousands of Canadians with good middle-class jobs and remain important contributors to our economy and manufacturing supply chains.

Quotes

"We are committed to supporting Canadian steel workers and the innovative, world-class products they produce. Our investment in Tenaris will help strengthen the competitiveness of the steel sector for years to come, maintain Canada's position in the global market and support jobs for middle-class Canadians."
– The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction

"Canadian steel producers and workers form the economic backbone of communities across our country. This investment will support over 600 workers at Tenaris and help it upgrade its Algoma Tubes and Prudential facilities, become more competitive and expand its product offerings."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development 

"The steel industry is the source of thousands of well-paying middle-class jobs in the Sault community. Our government is proud to support steel companies such as Tenaris Algoma Tubes as they upgrade their facilities to become more competitive and create and maintain those critical jobs in our local economy." 
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie

"The development of Canada's energy resources requires high-quality OCTG products, and expanding our service offerings is crucial to support the energy industry. The new investment will also strengthen our Rig Direct® business model with shorter lead times and increased flexibility, while improving our customer support."
– Guillermo Moreno, Tenaris President, Canada 

Quick facts

• Tenaris operates the Algoma Tubes mill, Canada's only seamless facility and the leading manufacturer of steel pipes used in the energy sector, specifically oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and line pipes.
• In 2018, the Canadian steel industry employed more than 23,000 Canadians and contributed $4.3 billion to Canada's gross domestic product. This industry is a vital supplier to the Canadian manufacturing, energy, automotive and construction industries.
• This investment is being made through the Strategic Innovation Fund, a program designed to attract and support high-quality business investments across all sectors of the economy by encouraging firm expansion as well as R&D that will accelerate the transfer of technology and the commercialization of innovative products, processes and services and will facilitate the growth of innovative firms.
• In addition to the Strategic Innovation Fund, there are hundreds of programs and services to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada's economy. With a simple, story-based user interface, the Innovation Canada platform can match businesses with the most fitting programs and services in about two minutes.

Associated links

• Strategic Innovation Fund
• Government of Canada announces support for more than 2,100 Canadian steel workers in western Canada
• Government support ensures jobs for over 3,000 steel workers in Sault Ste. Marie
• Government announces support for 6,400 Canadian steel workers in Ontario and Quebec
• Alcoa and Rio Tinto announce world's first carbon-free aluminum smelting process
• Government of Canada announces support for the aluminum sector in Quebec
• Government of Canada announces support for at least 830 aluminum sector workers in the Côte-Nord region
• Government of Canada announces support for 108 Canadian steel workers in Quebec

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For further information: Dani Keenan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-1710; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home