Tony Martin calls for meeting to prevent ASI 'crisis'

Sault MPP Tony Martin is calling local leaders to gather to develop a plan to prevent "catastrophic" effects from yesterday's announcement of 600 layffs at Algoma Steel over the next 90 days.

Martin wants the meeting to deal with issues related to economic diversification as well as education and training.

"We must get out ahead of this," Martin said in a news release.

"If we all work together we can build practical solutions to ensure no one in our community is left struggling."

The following is the full text of Martin's statement:

**************************************************************** Martin: Strategy to protect against layoff crisis

SAULT STE. MARIE - MPP Tony Martin is calling for a meeting of all key community leaders to forge a strategy to protect against a potential crisis from today's Algoma Steel layoff announcement.

"Today's layoff announcement could have a catastrophic effect on our community. We need all players around the table to come up with a strategy to protect our future," Martin said.

Martin is proposing a meeting with local elected representative from all three levels of government, along with key representatives from Algoma Steel United Steel Workers, HRDC, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, FedNor, Algoma University, Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. and the Sault Community Development Corp.

Martin says the meeting should address:

* opportunities for economic diversification, including the consideration of various sources of venture capital, including Ontario First Funds and other labour investment funds, private foundations, Northern Development and Mines, FedNor etc. * opportunities for education and training: the role of CSTEC (Canadian Steel Trade Employment Congress), Algoma University and Sault College in providing adequate educational opportunities for laid-off steelworkers, including the full array of options from community college programmes to university degree programmes

"We must get out ahead of this," said Martin.

"If we all work together we can build practical solutions to ensure no one in our community is left struggling."

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