The Stel Salaried
Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission
to post the following article by Reporter Daniel Nolan in the February 12, 2004
edition
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Feb. 12, 2004. 01:36 AM |
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Stronach's visit draws the curious |
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By Daniel Nolan |
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Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach says Ottawa should play a larger role in trying to help troubled Stelco get back on its feet. "It is such a great economic impact on the Hamilton area we cannot ignore it," she told reporters during a campaign stop at Chandelier Place last night. "We must work together with Stelco and figure out how it can be competitive in this fiercely global competitive environment ... 5,000 jobs is a lot of jobs. We must work together with Stelco, with its management and with the province and say how can we maintain it and preserve as many of these jobs as possible." The Paul Martin government is under fire, even by some of its own members such as MPs Sheila Copps and John Bryden, for not getting more involved in trying to help the steel giant work its way out of its financial crisis. Liberal MPs, led by Revenue Minister and Hamilton West MP Stan Keyes, have denied the government is uninterested and points out it has formed a special committee to monitor the situation. Industry Minister Lucienne Robillard, however, says the company has not contacted the government for input. The company, which employs about 5,000 in Hamilton and 1,500 in Nanticoke, was granted temporary protection from creditors last month. Stronach, former chief executive officer for Magna International, a giant car parts manufacturer, did not propose specific solutions for Stelco. "We have to look at what it takes for Stelco to be a viable business. I believe the managers and employees and unions must get together and develop a plan so that it can be competitive." About 200 people came out to meet the political novice, who is running for the leadership against former Alliance leader Stephen Harper and ex-Ontario cabinet minister Tony Clement. The turnout was about the same as came to hear Harper when he was in Hamilton last month. Many say Stronach's entry into the campaign has created interest. "She's actually put some interest into the race," said Jackie Riddle, a teacher from Troy, who came with her husband Ernie because they were curious. "We know about everybody else. We don't know about her." Her visit also attracted Liberals. Tejinder Singh, who's working on Sheila Copps's nomination for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, came with some friends to see her. "We're just wondering what's going on," he said. In her address to the gathering, Stronach said she was seeking the leadership because "I have a dream of making a better life for our country." She outlined her promises to scrap the tax on capital investment, give a tax deduction on mortgage interest and promote bringing foreign-trained doctors living in Canada into the nation's medical field. On another Hamilton issue, Stronach told reporters she believed in long-term funding for cities "so that they can properly plan and continue to reinvest and enhance their cities and infrastructure." But she did not have any specifics or give whole-hearted support to giving cities cash from the gas tax. "That may be an option we can consider," Stronach told reporters. The Liberal governments in Ottawa and Toronto have pledged funds from the tax. Clement will tour the area before the Feb. 29 cutoff for memberships of the new party. The leadership vote is March 20. dnolan@thespec.com 905-526-3351 |