CitySSMA show of support for the Canadian steel industry.  That’s what Tenaris and Essar Steel Algoma were hoping to get from the city as council discussed that requst Monday night.  The local companies want the city to oppose a request by British Columbia for a ‘regional exemption’ from antidumping and countervailing duties on illegally-imported rebar — or reinforced steel.  The duties were put on rebar imports from China, South Korea and Turkey in January by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal because it felt they would hurt Canadian producers. BC is asking for a ‘regional exemption’ because the imports are needed to constrain the province’s construction costs. Both Essar and Tenaris sent letters to Mayor Christian Provenzano saying a precedent in supporting such an exemption would set a precedent in weakening the Canadian industry and hurt the economy of Canadian producers, suppliers and workers.  While Council verbally acknowledged that the city would show its support for the steelmakers, a submission would still have to be made to the tribunal by July 6th.

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City Councillor Susan Myers referred to it as ‘great news’.  She was reacting to funding to help the city’s homeless.  It was announced at Monday’s Council meeting that federal money amounting to 136 thousand dollars a year  from the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.  It will go to the city’s Social Services Department for the next five years.  The money — for up to two years — will be shared by four local agencies.  Vincent Place and Pauline’s Place will each get 10 thousand dollars a year to provide services.  The United Way and the John Howard Society will use their share — just over 50 thousand per year — to hire a Community Housing Support Worker and a Shelter Co-ordinator/Transitional Case Manager.

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City Council also received a report from the City Clerk’s Department asking to repeal a by-law.  A number of property owners within the Downtown Business Improvement Area to repeal the by-law — dissolving the BIA with the city assuming the assets and liabilities that are formerly the BIA’s responsibility. A petition asked for support of the idea from affected businesses who feel they receive little if any value for the levy required to pay the BIA.  A notice will now be sent to all BIA businesses of the proposal to disband the group.  Council could repeal the by-law after 60 days if the Clerk’s Department receives further requests to repeal from at least one half of the persons entitled to receive notice.  That figure must also represent at least 50 percent of the business taxes levied in the BIA.

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A letter responding to a request for information will be discussed at the next council meeting on June 8th.  The letter was an update on a request involving Algoma Public Health that was made late last month.  It attempts to answer the question of what steps were by the APH board to ensure no employee information was accessed, obtained or retained by the Chief Financial Officer.  A second question was responded to about what process was followed in retaining the services of the Interim Chief Finanical Officer and if any deficiencies from the previous process have been identified and addressed.  Ward 3 councillor Matthew Shoemaker requested the deferral on Monday so that he could a better look at the information highlighted in the letter.