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Steel Producers Advance Policy Priorities To Strengthen Industry In Canada
April 1, 2009 ( Ottawa, ON )
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), in meetings this week in Ottawa, will outline its key policy priorities to keep Canada’s steel industry strong and positioned for future investment.
“Canada’s steel industry has been an important part of the industrial landscape for a very long time,” said Ron Watkins, President of CSPA. “While much has changed in our industry in recent years, we fully intend to remain an integral part of the economic future.”
The immediate priority for steel producers is rapid action to rebuild demand for steel across the economic spectrum. Canada’s steel industry is tied to the market conditions facing other major sectors, including manufacturing, energy, construction, and natural resources. As a result, steel industry capacity utilization has fallen sharply in the past 6 months, to below 50 percent, resulting in difficult cutbacks by steel producers.
“The economic situation today is clearly very serious”, said Watkins. “But we also need to develop a policy environment for the longer-term that is focused on investment and jobs in Canada.” Specifically, the steel industry is looking for government policy actions that will strengthen the manufacturing base, encourage fair trade, balance environmental and economic policy, and develop the skilled workforce needed for the future steel industry.
The Canadian steel industry has gone through a remarkable transformation in recent years, with leading global steel companies investing over $11 billion in Canada. Bringing not just capital, but also technologies, skills, and business opportunities, these investments strengthen the basis for future success of the steel industry in Canada.
Steel is the building block of many industry value chains; it is a significant employer, and a customer for over 5000 suppliers. CSPA representatives stressed that policy priorities must create conditions that will attract future investment and reinvestment into Canadian steelmaking.
“Government policies now, and for the medium term, are an important part of that equation,” continued Watkins. “That is, fundamentally, what we wish to discuss with Members of Parliament and policymakers this week, and beyond. With supportive public policies, steel will continue to make Canada stronger.”
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The CSPA is the national industry organization for Canadian producers of steel and steel pipe and tube. Our members operate facilities in 8 provinces. In 2008, CSPA members employed approximately 30,000 thousand Canadians, and produced approximately $14 billion in steel products.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Powell
CSPA Public Relations
Cell: (613) 797-7313
Email: mike@impactcanada.com