Hamilton, ON – Ned Kuruc, Conservative Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, released the following statement on LNG Canada’s decision to use Chinese steel in Phase II:

“This week, Canadians learned of the devastating partial shutdown of Stelco’s Hamilton plant, leaving 350 steelworkers and their families to wonder how they will keep a roof over their heads. Now, we learn that the project that the Prime Minister has touted as the second largest private investment in Canada will use Beijing steel, at the exact time as our steelworkers are hurting the most.

“Mark Carney promised Canadians that his government would ‘Buy Canadian,’ with the policy of ‘using more Canadian steel’ applying to projects under the Major Project Office, such as LNG Phase II. Yet, after saying his major projects would ensure that Canada was ‘our own best customer,’ the Prime Minister is now telling suffering steelworkers that it’s up to proponents ‘to decide’ whether Buy Canadian applies. 

“The fact that the steel fabrication cannot be done in Canada is another failure of Mr. Carney’s government to create the environment for steelmaking here at home. His government imposes a costly industrial carbon tax that makes it more expensive to build and produce in Canada. That means our industry is forced to pay more while Beijing exploits weak labour and environmental standards to produce artificially cheap steel.

“Carney cannot claim to be caught by surprise: the issue of using foreign fabricated steel was raised during Phase I, with industry opposed when the Liberals granted a remission order from anti-dumping duties. During negotiations with LNG Canada, did Carney not seek any steel commitments for Phase II? Why didn’t he secure Canadian-origin steel to be used, even if fabrication occurs abroad?

“Our steel industry supports over 100,000 jobs across the economy, and the sector deserves a government that will fight for them. Steelworkers who are facing layoffs deserve answers on what building with Canadian steel actually means when projects keep getting built with foreign steel.

“Conservatives will always fight for Canada’s steelworkers. We will fight to save their jobs and save them money so they can pay their bills and feed their families here at home. We will fight to unleash businesses with the fastest permits, lowest taxes and freest economy to grow our economy and deliver an affordable, safe and independent country.”