Councillors reject further transpolar initiatives

Sault Ste. Marie City Council voted last night to halt any further activity on Mayor Rowswell's transpolar cargo initiative, despite extensive efforts by the Mayor to get the resolution watered down.

Under a resolution introduced by Ward 2 Councillor Brady Irwin and his Ward 3 counterpart Bryan Hayes, no further transpolar initiatives will be allowed unless Council determines that sufficient progress has been made on developing North American air cargo business using the airport's existing runways and infrastructure.

Council must also be convinced, based on its North American air cargo experiences, that transpolar business is worth pursuing, the resolution states.

Councillors took the action after a transpolar update provided by the Mayor using a 15-foot handwritten flowchart.

Photo: Mayor Rowswell delivers transpolar lecture

Rowswell repeatedly tried to get the transpolar restrictions removed from the Irwin/Hayes resolution, arguing that the City had recently received a "hit" from EDS Global Logistics and that we could be dealing with more transpolar opportunities in the very near future.

"If you've got a hit, you've got to move on it," Rowswell said.

Despite last night's Council decision, Rowswell intends to set up a special air cargo committee to pursue further prospects.

The following is the full text of a letter from EDS submitted to Council by Mayor Rowswell:

**************************************************************** April 26, 2003

Mayor John Rowswell Civic Centre, PO Box 580, 99 Foster Drive Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 5N1

Dear Mr. Mayor:

Re: Sault Ste. Marie Air Cargo and Global Logistics Development Plan

We at the EDS Global Logistics Solution Centre in Piano, Texas are pleased to have had the opportunity to review the Intervistas Air Cargo Hub Feasibility Study.

Personally, I feel good groundwork has been made and should be continued.

At the EDS Global Logistics Solution Centre we have developed a comprehensive managed program for the sourcing, negotiating, procuring and managing of Logistics services.

Our Goal has always been to deliver the most cost effective and efficient transportation logistics support to EDS and its clients.

Much of our productivity improvements can be attributed to our development of strategic relationships with some of the world's largest Global Logistics Companies and Cargo Carriers.

Having furthered discussions with you this past Friday April 25, EDS is interested in the possibility of partnering to support working on both phases of your Air Cargo development project.

Our understanding is that the phase one growth at Sault Ste. Marie will develop from the use of existing airport infrastructure with the development of state-of-the-art logistics systems and services to attract the required traffic.

Phase two would be the development of a global presence with the necessary airport and runway infrastructure used by global integrators.

Mr. Mayor, regarding your Phase two plans, I plan to make initial contact with DHL Worldwide Express, one of the worlds largest integrator/Logistics company (Air, Land, Sea, Cargo Carrier) to socialize your project with their executive management.

To confirm, EDS and DHL have an ongoing strategic relationship brought about by EDS's natural global presence with 130,000 employees in 60 countries, our $6B contract with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp bases, service and management for Dow Chemical through DowNET transportation, and transportation and customs brokerage for Sabre's worldwide client base, to name a few.

Once again, EDS looks forward to exploring ways we could be partner to your City's future success in Global Logistics and Transportation Services.

Sincerely,

Rob Lewin, Manager, EDS Global Logistics