Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan is taking another turn as co-chair of the House of Commons’ All-Party Steel Caucus, which advocates for the interests of the Canadian steel industry.
Sheehan, whose hometown hosts the Algoma Steel manufacturing plant, has been part of the group since 2015.
During his time with the caucus, he has successfully lobbied against tariffs on Canadian steel imports into the U.S.; pressed for action against the dumping of cheap steel from overseas manufacturers; and spoken out about the threat of climate change to the steel industry.
Steel remains a key industry for Canada. According to federal government figures, in 2021, the sector employed 23,700 workers and contributed $2.8 billion to the gross domestic product, while $17.4 billion of steel was traded between Canada and the United States.
In the Sault, Algoma Steel manufactures and sells hot and cold rolled steel products, including sheet and plate.
During the first fiscal quarter of 2022, the company posted a quarterly profit of $328.9 million, up from the $252.2 million posted during the same time in 2021.
The plant is currently undertaking a $700-million transformation of its steelmaking operations, constructing two electric arc furnaces to replace the existing coke and iron production, which will reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent.
