Skip to content

Budget contains a strategy for steel, Sheehan says

MP also looks forward to Sault's infrastructure wish list
15-10-19 Terry Sheehan DT
SooToday file photo of MP Terry Sheehan. Darren Taylor/SooToday

Sault MP Terry Sheehan is pleased with the Liberal government's first budget and its approach to steel.

"In the budget, in black and white on page 128, is strengthening Canada's response to unfair trade…we have it here, it's the commitment as part of the 2016 budget, to effectively remedy dumped and subsidized imports (of steel, from countries such as China) through legislative amendments," Sheehan told SooToday Tuesday.

Steel industry supporters, including Sault MPP David Orazietti, have called on the new federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fight for fairer trade laws.

Dumped steel products from China and other countries have been named as one of the causes of Essar Steel Algoma's current woes.

"It was so important to get that in there, we're sending a signal out that we're serious about this, we're going to go through a process of starting to modernize our trade remedy system…it's been a five month effort by myself and my staff and all the other partners and stakeholders," Sheehan said.

A major part of the budget introduced Tuesday by Finance Minister Bill Morneau is $11.9 billion for infrastructure (public transit, water, waste management and housing).

The Liberals have promised a whopping $120 billion for infrastructure for Canada over the next ten years.

Sheehan said he has met with Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano, Sault MPP David Orazietti as well as other leaders and stakeholders regarding the Sault's infrastructure needs and has urged them to put a wish list together for when infrastructure money is handed out.

"I look forward to that," Sheehan said.

$1 billion will be spent over four years to support clean technology, as well as $130 million over five years to support clean technology research and development.

That, Sheehan said, ties in with a funding commitment made by Trudeau when he visited the Sault on the campaign trail last summer.

Among the winners in Tuesday's budget are infrastructure, the environment, First Nations, veterans, students, families and EI recipients.

National defence and small businesses will not do so well, and former Conservative tax breaks are out the door.

The former Conservative government promised to drop the small business tax rate (small businesses often hailed by politicians of all stripes as the backbone of our economy) from 11 percent to nine percent by 2019.

Tuesday's Liberal budget drops it to 10.5 percent, with no mention of future cuts.

"We ran on a very specific campaign...and we are supporting a variety of businesses," Sheehan said.

The budget contains a large $29.4 billion deficit this year, $29 billion next year before falling, and the Liberals say the books won't be balanced until 2021, two years after their mandate ends in 2019. 

"The one thing I have to say is the Conservatives and the NDP promised to balance the books this year at all costs which meant they were going to have to cut healthcare, transit, childcare…their promises just didn't add up," Sheehan said.

"We were honest with people, we said we would run deficits in the short-term before balancing the books."


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.




Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
Read more