The
Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator
for permission to post the following article by Reporter Tara Perkins in the
February 11, 2004 edition
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Feb. 11, 2004. 12:57 AM |
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Liberals defend handling of Stelco |
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Lead minister on issue won't attend meeting with
steelmaking officials |
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By Tara Perkins |
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Liberals who gathered in Ottawa to discuss steel last week had a productive meeting, two of them said, disputing accusations that they spent most of the meeting discussing Sheila Copps. The industry minister defended her colleagues yesterday, saying they displayed their concern for Stelco during the meeting. "We are monitoring that very closely. We all know this is of considerable importance to Hamilton," said Lucienne Robillard, who is to take the lead on the Stelco issue for the federal government. "We had a very focused meeting with the minister," said Paddy Torsney, a Burlington MP. But New Democratic Leader Jack Layton demanded again yesterday that Paul Martin's government do something concrete to help the steel industry. "We get this lame excuse from Madame Robillard, who stands up in the House of Commons and says we haven't had a formal request (for help from Stelco) ... I think they should spend some time doing something about the steel industry instead of spending so much time gossiping about what Sheila Copps is going to do," Layton said. On Monday, Liberal MP John Bryden said he was frustrated that members of his party talked about Sheila Copps rather than steel at the Thursday morning meeting of the Hamilton-Niagara caucus in Ottawa. Robillard said Stelco is a difficult issue to deal with. "That company is facing, I would say, similar problems to other steel companies right now internationally. It's not an easy situation because this is an industry globally that is in a situation of overcapacity and overproduction." Robillard said that we have now finally seen some U.S. steel companies adjust to the competitive environment, and she hopes Stelco will find a way to restructure under court protection from its creditors. "The officials from the Stelco company, at a certain point, will inform us where they are going with the restructuring plan, and that is the most important thing," Robillard said. She added that officials from the steelmaker have asked the government for a meeting with members of her team "to inform them where they are at right now." Robillard said she would not attend that meeting personally. Asked for her views on protection for the steel industry, such as tariffs, the minister said a North American Steel Trade Committee was launched in the fall, with the goal of helping Canada, Mexico and the United States compete effectively in the industry. Robillard said she thinks the Canadian finance department is taking the lead on that for this country. Torsney sent a letter to Robillard after the meeting, asking what the government has done for the steel industry. On behalf of the caucus, the letter "respectfully requests an outline of the federal government actions in support of Canada's steel sector and its employees." Robillard said she will reply to Torsney shortly. tperkins@thespec.com 905-526-4620 |