An Ontario company is reaching out to the federal government about revitalizing shipbuilding in the province, especially with increased defense spending and tense relations with the United States.
Shaun Padulo, president and CEO of Ontario Shipyards, used a news conference related to tariffs at his St. Catharines, Ont., shipyard on Thursday to suggest that the once-thriving shipbuilding sector in Ontario is ready for a comeback.
“We at Ontario Shipyards, and our supply chain, can give the Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard the ships they need while building Canadian capacity, strengthening our sovereignty, and creating durable, economic opportunity here at home,” he said.
The federal government is reportedly looking into spending billions on a new fleet of corvette warships. Padulo believes that Ontario Shipyards should be part of those contracts.
“The infrastructure is here to be able to operate a large-scale building shipyard.”
Padulo mentioned that such a contract could quickly increase his St. Catharines shipyard workforce to 800 people along with many additional jobs.
No new announcements regarding specific tariff-related support for local companies were made during Thursday’s event. However, Padulo, whose company also operates shipyards in Hamilton and Thunder Bay, stated that government tariff relief programs are vital for businesses and workers facing the immediate fallout from an “unjustified” trade shock.
Yet he wants to convey in Ottawa that if the government genuinely wants to assist his St. Catharines shipyard, it should start sending work their way for constructing new navy and coast guard vessels.
“When we talk about protecting Canadian workers and strengthening Canadian industry, the opportunity is not theoretical: you can see it around us,” Padulo said while standing before the massive John D. Leitch cargo ship. “Ontario is ready to build ships again.”
St. Catharines Liberal MP Chris Bittle and Rechie Valdez, federal minister of women and gender equality as well as secretary of state for small business and tourism, used this chance-while about 100 shipyard workers looked on-to point fingers at the U. S. regarding the trade conflict.
After negotiations for a trade deal fell apart on Aug. 21, U. S. President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on billions worth of Canadian goods. Canada retaliated with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on an estimated $27.6 billion worth of U. S. goods set to take effect Sept. 8.
Ottawa also announced a $7.5 billion support package aimed at helping Canadian workers and businesses cope with the trade war.
Rechie Valdez speaks to workers at Ontario Shipyards in St. Catharines while St. Catharines riding MPP Chris Bittle looks on (Paul Forsyth/CBC)
“We’ve had a long-standing free trade relationship [with the U. S.] and that has been upended by an illegal trade war,” Bittle stated. “It’s frightening: Talking to businesses across this community, across Niagara; they’re worried.”
Bittle expressed his hope too in restoring the province’s status as a leading shipbuilding hub.
“I’m going to work with my federal colleagues to ensure we’re doing that again,” he said. “The Royal Canadian Navy is looking for new ships and I know there’s dockyard or shipyard space available here in Hamilton and Thunder Bay.”
Speaking with near some ships being repaired, Padulo noted that his St. Catharines facility-formerly known as Port Weller Dry Dock-employs just over 200 individuals compared to its previous workforce of around 2,000.
Shaun Padulo stands at his company’s shipyard in St. Catharines alongside St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle , Ontario Shipyards employees, and Rechie Valdez (Paul Forsyth/CBC)
“Behind these ships there are giant fabrication halls; there are fabrication shops here,” he pointed out. “They’re idle. Our Hamilton yard was empty for about six months this year.”
Padulo emphasized that investing in shipbuilding-which provides jobs for welders , electricians , engineers , fabricators , technicians , and advanced manufacturing personnel -will help diversify Canada’s economy.
“A shipbuilding program does not create work for only a few months,” he explained. “It creates demand throughout the supply chain over years or even decades.”
“Ontario Shipyards is… ready to help make Canada a great shipbuilding nation once again.” p>
Source link
