Parliament Hill (QMI file photo)

While the federal government has made inroads to modernize trade legislation to protect the steel industry, Sault MP Terry Sheehan is asking for more.

He’s introduced a Notice of Motion at the standing committee on industry, science and technology asking the government to implement a strategy for the Canadian steel industry.

Sheehan, co-chair of the all-party steel caucus, which allows Members of Parliament from across Canada to work collaboratively on issues facing the steel industry, said the move is to continue fighting for the important industry.

“We’re fighting hard to elevate the importance of the steel industry in Canada,” Sheehan said in an interview with The Sault Star.

The intent of the resolution, he said, is to ensure that Canada stays active on the steel file and monitor changes to the industry a little closer which in turn would result in a quicker reaction if a major issue arises.

“We need to look at this issue from a wider angle now. We need to open up and examine the skilled labour shortages, the manufacturing or potential for green steel, examine our procurement measures and get a good handle on NAFTA and how that affects steel,” he said.

“We need to expand the mandate to include the entire supply chain and deal with more than just the steel trade,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan said he introduced the Notice of Motion because he made a promise to fight for Canada’s steel industry.

“I am excited to undertake this important work with the committee. Canada needs a steel strategy so we can continue to build on what we have accomplished in the past two years and to further strengthen our future,” he said.

The first-term Member of Parliament, who is now half way into his mandate, said he has been focused on the need to have well-paid, reliable jobs in the steel industry and government investments in skilled labour training is key.

“In order to be competitive, it is critical for the steel industry to have highly skilled workers. We need to maintain connections with universities and colleges, we need to look to innovation, to ensure that the sector has a highly trained, highly skilled workforce it needs to compete and prosper internationally,” he said.

Last month, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce adapted a resolution that will see the non-partisan organization lobby about the importance of the Canadian steel industry.

The resolution calls on the federal government to identify steel as a ‘core industry’ and a ‘critical element’ of the national economy.

It also urges the Canadian Chamber to communicate the need for an immediate and coordinated response to importation of non-market economy produced steel and encourages a free and full access to each other’s market.

A year earlier, the Chamber called on the federal government to develop a coordinated steel manufacturing strategy.

In 2016 the federal government signed a tri-lateral agreement with the United States and Mexico to coordinate trade remedy enforcement.

At that time, all three leaders agreed on the need for governments of all major steel producing countries to make strong and immediate commitments to address the problem of global excess steelmaking capacity.

http://www.saultstar.com/2017/10/24/sheehan-pushes-to-keep-on-top-of-steel-industry