International Minister of Trade Ed Fast and Sault MP Bryan Hayes answer questions about trade and ‘anti-dumping’, the federal investment into Essar Steel Algoma’s Deep Water Harbour/Port Project and the fate of the ACR Passenger Rail Service on Wednesday.

International Minister of Trade Ed Fast continued his visit to Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday. Prior to stops at green manufacturer Heliene and steel company China Steel, Fast was part of a local ’roundtable’ at the Delta Waterfront during the morning. He was asked why steel was the theme of his visit. Fast responded that steel is a very important industry to Canada and that it is one with challenges. One of those challenges is when countries do not respect international trade rules, resulting in surplus dumped on the world market…

Fast mentioned the good relationship Ottawa has with Ron Watkins of the Canadian Association Of Steel Producers. He also talked about one example where Canada stopped Alaska from building a new ferry terminal at Prince Rupert because it only wanted to use American steel for the project. The federal government prevented this by enacting a rarely used piece of legislation that would have forced Alaska to include Canadian steel producers in the construction of the terminal. Fast was asked about the major investment the federal government has made in Essar’s Deep Water Harbour/Port Project…

Fast mentioned that Ottawa has already partnered with Essar Steel Algoma and the city for the project’s first phase — the design portion. He also credited the chance to leverage Sault Ste. Marie’s geographical advantage and allowing the city to be the hub of trade activity in the Great Lakes region an as exciting opportunity. Sault MP Bryan Hayes was joined by Fast on Wednesday at the Delta Waterfront. Hayes was asked about the state of the ACR Passenger Rail Service — with a date of September 9th looming for the stakeholder group to receive submissions from potential third party operators…

Hayes was also asked about the Agawa Canyon Tour Train operating beyond October 12th. He would only say that this will be a decision that CN will have to make and that the potential third-party operator being sought for the passenger service may also run that.