For the purposes of clarity . . .

The Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation told you Tuesday about its letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the dire situation faced by Essar Steel Algoma and Tenaris Algoma Tubes.

In its news release about the letter, the EDC referenced a Buy Canadian procurement policy, and they're not sure their wording was clear enough.

The following is a clarification:

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In recent correspondence and communication to various parties and the media regarding  the Canadian steel industry, Essar Steel Algoma Inc. and the community’s future, the SSMEDC made reference to promoting a “Buy Canadian” strategy and to establishing “Buy Canadian” procurement policies.

For the purposes of clarity, “Buy Canadian” practices in this circumstance means:

• Ensuring that the federal $125 billion infrastructure programs maximize the benefits to Canadians, Canadian businesses that provide goods and services, and ultimately, the nation’s economy through appropriate gov’t funding agreement terms and conditions, program criteria and related guidelines, while supporting free and fair trade;

• Recognizing that Canada faces open competition from imports for government procurement projects, Canadian businesses face outright barriers or restrictions when they look to participate in projects in the US and elsewhere. Where reciprocity does not exist and cannot be negotiated, the government is encouraged to exercise their rights in trade agreements to establish Canadian preference policies.

The objective of promoting these practices, policies and strategies, is to insure that Canadians, Canadian businesses and the country’s economy realize the best return on the Federal Government investment in infrastructure.

The corporation does not advocate protectionist trade practices. 

We seek free and fair trade. 

Creating appropriate opportunities to make the most of Canadian goods and services as part of our national infrastructure program is one way to maximize the federal ROI.

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