Latest news with #MatthewShoemaker
CBC
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Sault Ste. Marie police board chair and vice-chair resign amid tensions with city council
The chair and vice-chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board have resigned, citing concerns about political interference from city council and Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. Former chair John Bruno and vice-chair Ian MacKenzie stepped down Friday, their resignations come amid growing tensions over the police force's financial management and board governance. Both had served on the board for several years and resigned as the city continues its search for a new police chief. MacKenzie opposed the board's decision not to consider former chief Hugh Stevenson for reappointment. After seven years as chief, Stevenson resigned in March to run as a federal Conservative candidate and later expressed interest in returning. In a statement to CBC News, Mayor Shoemaker said the resignations followed a May 12 council meeting where the board chair was asked to respond to concerns about back-to-back budget deficits totalling nearly $5 million. "Nearly two months later – before responding to Council – the Chair and Vice-Chair resigned instead of providing the responses they had been preparing for months," Shoemaker said in the statement. "Contrary to the suggestions in their resignation letters, this line of questioning is not an act of inappropriate politicization – it is a necessary and responsible response to a deeply troubling situation. You cannot simply hand-wave aside a $5 million deficit. Hard questions must be asked so the public can receive honest answers and the organization can move forward." Shoemaker said that the former chair and vice chair are now deflecting scrutiny by questioning the motives of those asking legitimate questions. "I have seen this dynamic play out repeatedly since I rejoined the Police Services Board in February – shortly before the deficit came to light," he said. Shoemaker will serve as vice-chair of the police board for the remainder of the current term. The board met the day after the resignations and named former city solicitor Nuala Kenny as chair. In a statement, the board thanked Bruno and MacKenzie for their service and said it remains "fully committed to its mandate of ensuring adequate and effective policing." The board said hiring a new police chief remains a top priority, with interviews underway and a new appointment expected by the end of August. Ward 4 Coun. Marchy Bruni will take Bruno's place on the recruitment committee.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Here are the changes this Grade 5 student would make in Sault Ste. Marie
Taylor May Brown, a Grade 5 French Immersion student from Sault Ste. Marie outlines the changes she would make as a "Mayor for a Day." More than 200 Grade 5 and 6 students in Sault Ste. Marie competed this month for the title of 'Mayor for a Day,' and the winner has been chosen. 'Through written or video submissions, local youth demonstrated an impressive understanding of municipal governance and operations, along with a passion for Sault Ste. Marie,' the city said in a news release Monday. They were asked to answer three questions: Why would you like to be the Mayor for a Day? If you were the mayor, what would you do? What are the things you like most about Sault Ste. Marie? 'This contest has proven to be a great way to get young people interested in their municipal government,' said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. 'Introducing young community members to municipality helps them understand the structure and function of government, in turn developing a sense of civic duty and responsibility that will hopefully encourage them to be informed and active participants in our community as they grow.' Winner chosen In a video submitted by Taylor May Brown, a Grade 5 student at St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School, she outlined the changes she would make if given the chance. Taylor May Brown wants to be Mayor for a Day Taylor May Brown chose to be Mayor for a Day. (City of Sault Ste. Marie) Proving politics doesn't have to be boring, Brown's first order of business would be to start each day with a free pancake breakfast and have campfires to roast marshmallows every Friday night at the Sault Locks. She said she would also turn the Miss Marie lock tour boat into a Beaver Tails ship, have a talent show at the Bondar tent, declare 'Hug a Tree Day' at Bellevue Park, build a giant snow fort and have a city-wide snowball fight at the downtown plaza. As the winner, Brown gets a tour of the Civic Centre and will meet Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. He will also visit her class and throw them all a pizza party. Brown will officially open the city council meeting Monday at 5 p.m. 'Her video (watch above) will be shown at the beginning of the meeting, and the students recognized with honourable mentions have been invited to attend the meeting as well,' the city said. Three other Grade 5 students were chosen as honourable mentions in the contest: Scarlett Douglas of Parkland Public School, Jax O'Hara of Greenwood Public School and Charlotte Mackenzie of Tarentorus Public School.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Sault mayor joins CTV Your Morning to talk tariffs
Northern Ontario Watch CTV Your Morning host Anne-Marie Mediwake talks with Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker about Trump's new 50% tariffs on steel and their impacts on the region.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Sault bracing for economic blow from U.S. steel tariffs
The United States' decision to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 per cent took effect Wednesday, raising concerns over the future of Sault Ste. Marie's largest employer, Algoma Steel. Algoma steel A worker is shown at Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on Friday, April 25, 2025. (File photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick) 'I think we all know that at 50 per cent, the company will be selling everything at a loss, which is not a sustainable business,' said Bill Slater, president of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2724, one of two unions representing Algoma Steel workers. With most of Algoma's business tied to U.S. markets, the tariff hike threatens significant economic fallout. The company declined an interview request but provided a statement previously sent to CTV News: The North American steel market is highly integrated, and Algoma Steel is deeply concerned with the announced increase in 232 steel tariffs to 50%. The Algoma Team remains in close consultation with our customers and the government regarding the challenges this presents to our business. Algoma is advocating for swift government action to support Algoma and the Canadian steel industry during this volatile time. — Algoma Steel, coporate affairs Mayor Matthew Shoemaker warned prolonged tariffs could devastate the city. 'There would be job losses. There would be secondary industries or suppliers that close. There would be restaurants that close. It would be … it would be the end of the community as we know it,' he said. Matthew Shoemaker An undated profile picture of Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. (File Photo/The City of Sault Ste. Marie) Slater noted 19 union members are already facing long-term layoff notices in July due to the previous 25 per cent tariffs, adding 'everybody is worried about their jobs.' While the federal government has proposed support measures – including Employment Insurance adjustments and increased naval shipbuilding contracts using Canadian steel – Slater said these won't provide immediate relief. 'They're all good infrastructure projects, all good things that we need for the country, but they're not going to help us today. They may help us in the future,' he said. He urged governments to 'stabilize the Canadian market', citing an influx of foreign steel driving down domestic prices. 'There's too much steel coming in from other countries because it's too hard for them to get into the U.S., and that's causing a lower price on the steel in Canada.' A meeting is scheduled for Friday between Algoma Steel, USW Locals 2724 and 2251, Mayor Shoemaker, MP Terry Sheehan, and MPP Ross Romano to discuss solutions. Steel coils cool at Algoma Steel Inc., in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Friday, April 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Steel coils cool at Algoma Steel Inc., in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Friday, April 25, 2025.(File photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick) Shoemaker stressed the need for both short- and long-term fixes. 'At 50 per cent tariffs, there needs to both be a long-term solution or a permanent fix to the tariffs and a short-term solution to help plants immediately, because there is not the luxury of time to deal with the increased burden that is going to be placed on municipalities, the industry, and the community members affected by it,' he said.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Anger and anxiety': Sault Ste. Marie mayor on Trump doubling steel tariffs
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker says the federal and provincial governments need to come together with a plan to assist steel mills. U.S. President Donald Trump's newly doubled tariffs on steel are causing 'anger and anxiety' in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., the border city's mayor says. In an interview with CTV Your Morning Wednesday, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said Sault Ste. Marie's economy depends on steel – a product that Trump has made 'uneconomic to sell' with the stroke of a pen. 'Half of our community relies on the steel plant, either directly or indirectly,' he said. 'It's about 2,800 jobs directly, but it impacts grocery stores, restaurants, the theatre, you know, the home-improvement stores … and the suppliers, of course … every one of those businesses is going to be feeling the pinch.' Shoemaker says there is going to be an 'immediate' impact. Trump originally laid tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and aluminum imports in the early days of this year's global trade war. On Friday, the U.S. president announced he would double those rates to 50 per cent, effective Wednesday. Trump has said the move will protect his country's domestic steel industry, but Shoemaker described it as a problem for his community that has gone from bad to worse. '[Businesses] were able to, you know, hobble along, I would say, with the 25 per cent tariff while the negotiations were ongoing to resolve them, but at 50 per cent, it's going to … have to mean job impacts,' he said. The depth of those job losses will depend on how much support the industry gets from the federal government, Shoemaker noted. Prioritizing Canadian steel suppliers for things like defence and infrastructure projects has been pledged amid the trade war, but in the short-term, an emergency stopgap is needed. Sault-based Algoma Steel said in a statement they are 'advocating for swift government action,' and that they remain 'in close consultation with our customers and the government regarding the challenges this presents to our business.' In a May 31 statement, the United Steelworkers union described the tariff increase as 'a devastating blow to Canada's industries and the hundreds of thousands of jobs they support,' and called on Canada's federal government to 'act without delay to keep workers working.' And in a separate statement Wednesday morning, Unifor national president Lana Payne described the issue as a matter of "national economic security." '(U.S.) President Trump fails to understand the chaos and damage these tariffs will inflict on workers and consumers in both Canada and the U.S.,' she said. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government is actively negotiating to roll back the 'unlawful and unjustified' doubling of U.S. levies, while also putting some of Canada's own tariff revenues back into supporting workers and businesses. But help will be needed long before the trade war is resolved, Shoemaker said. 'Negotiating a resolution to this with the U.S. is not going to happen within the next couple of weeks, but there is the prospect of job losses within the next couple of weeks,' he told CTV. 'It's harder to rebuild a steel plant, or to recreate a manufacturing industry, than it is to support the one you've got.' The mayor is calling on the federal government to bring forward a 'concrete plan' within the next two weeks, either to buy or stockpile more steel from Canadian suppliers, or to support workers directly. 'It needs to be quick, and it needs to be impactful,' Shoemaker said. You can watch the full interview with Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Mayor Matthew Shoemaker in the video player at the top of this article. With files from CTV News' Lyndsay Aelick, Lynn Chaya, Stephanie Ha and Darren MacDonald, and The Canadian Press.
