https://www.saultstar.com/opinion/columnists/things-look-bright-for-twin-saults

Things look bright for twin Saults

Frank O'Connor For The Sault Star
More from Frank O'Connor For The Sault Star

Published on: December 10, 2018 | Last Updated: December 10, 2018 2:58 PM EST

Algoma Steel Inc. CEO Kalyan Ghosh says the cloud has been lifted from the Sault Ste. Marie steelmaker. It emerged from bankruptcy protection Fri. Nov. 30, 2018 after three years of restructuring. The company has a new owner comprised of various Canadian and American creditors. Ghosh said the company has reduced its debt signficantly, has plans to inject $300 million of improvements and has a plan for growth. Elaine Della-Mattia/The Sault Star/Postmedia Network.

It’s Christmas time in the twin Saults, and the outlook and feeling in the air has not been this bright in many years. I’m not talking about the feeling of mistletoe and magic, I am referring to the promising economic climate that we now find ourselves set in.

Let’s face it, things are good right now, and a strong economic future is clearly in our hands.

The news earlier in November that Searchmont Resort was purchased by Wisconsin Resorts Inc., was a tremendous boost to morale for our skier community and for winter tourism in general. The very capable Joseph Kosik, of Wisconsin Resorts Inc., says he believes it is a fantastic mountain with potential right up the wazzooo. As I write this column on an early Saturday morning in December, Kozik is opening the ski hill today. Dec. 8 was the earliest opening day I can recall in the last 20 years or so. Best wishes, good sir, and welcome to the real north.

It has been just over a week now since Algoma Steel Inc. announced its purchase of Essar Steel Algoma Inc. This has resulted in the steel company fully emerging from CCAA protection. The new Algoma Steel Inc. has announced it will spend $300 million on infrastructure upgrades and, yes, it will be hiring. For our industry town, this news could not have come at a better time. This is the kind of stability that will allow for more economic activity to generate and grow here. Congratulations to Algoma Steel Inc. for your courageous move, and your very forward thinking.

And this move puts our city in a much better position to be able to successfully land the Noront ferrochrome plant. We have been put on the short list of only two cities now bidding for the nearly billion-dollar project – Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.  All of the necessary ingredients are right here. We have the brownfield site, we have the energy capacity, we have the transportation networks in spades, we have the needed sub-contractors, and now we have a fully functioning and stable steel mill with a bright future. (The ferrochrome plant will likely land on Algoma Steel Inc. grounds.) Although this one is still several years away, it means jobs, jobs, jobs.

And speaking of jobs, jobs, jobs, the Sault is nearly at full capacity when it comes to employment. In fact, the problem now is employers and contractors are having a difficult time finding enough staff and skilled labour here, and are being forced to go beyond our borders to fill their employment requirements. Hey, all of you guidance counsellors and teachers out there, the future is in the skilled trades market. Get your kids into co-op programs, the OYAP apprenticeship program for youth, and headed over to the college of their choice (Sault College is a great option) to learn electrical, HVAC, welding, plumbing, carpentry, etc. The demand for skilled trades is only going to heighten, and we are definitely short on them.

On the Algoma University front, record enrolment increases have been experienced this year based largely on efforts to recruit from the local market, an increase in international student recruiting and a high level of interest in its school of business and economics. A strong college and university presence in our town will only bring more youth to our community. With our fair city’s charm, good job prospects, and naturally gifted hinterland, it is our mission to pave the way for these new students to make this their home after graduation day. Congratulations university president and vice-chancellor Asima Vezina and the entire team over at Algoma U for a job well done.

On the twin Sault side of things, a new billion-dollar lock retrofit has been approved by the Trump administration. Construction on this mammoth international project is set to begin in the next year or so, with river approach dredging, new wall construction and the actual lock construction happening shortly thereafter. I don’t know what you are thinking, but I am thinking that a billion-dollar construction project is going to require labour, lots of labour, I mean lots and lots of labour. Let’s hope there is a mechanism in place that will allow for our contractors and service providers to help those folks over on the American side get this one done.

To top off this list, our new city council was just sworn in, and it appears to be a refreshing group with some veterans and some newbies, some older and some younger, and some male and some female. I am very encouraged by the new spirit and passion for our town that this group of leaders seems to possess. They all held successful campaigns and their message of hope and change for our city is a worthy one.  Best wishes to our mayor, Christian Provenzano, and our new council. You have a formidable task before you.

So on that note, I applaud all those organizations and individuals who have put us in this good economic place. The city, the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp., the Innovation Centre, our two-post secondary schools, Algoma Steel Inc. our Community Development Corp., the Chamber of Commerce, banks and lending institutions, our provincial and Canadian political leaders, education leaders, energetic entrepreneurs, and so many more, have made this possible. Three cheers to all of you.

And a very Merry Christmas to all those who make the economic engine of the Sault fire cleanly on all pistons.

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An interesting video talk.....armour plate, oil and gas industry, bridges, new types of steel not made now.....just wish he would blurt out stainless!

https://saultonline.com/2018/12/algoma-steel-ceo-kalyan-ghosh-talks-past-present-future-of-the-steel-plant/

Algoma Steel CEO Kalyan Ghosh Talks Past Present & Future of the Steel Plant