CANADA: Industry leaders, suppliers and governments came together at the Made in Canada: Ferries & Rail Summit to discuss how the railway and ferry sectors could use more Canadian steel and aluminium.
The event was hosted by Minister of Transport & Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland at steel company ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s headquarters in Hamilton, Ontario, on September 2.
The ministry said the aim is to build more resilient supply chains, at a time when industries are facing intense pressure from US tariffs.
‘We had frank and focused discussions about how to use more Canadian steel and aluminium in ferry and rail construction, how to overcome barriers to building in Canada, and what targeted actions governments can take to support industry and build a reliable domestic market’, said Freeland. ‘We are building a future where Canadian trains and ferries are built with Canadian steel and aluminium, by Canadian workers, and where Canada has the strongest economy in the G7.’
Participants in the summit included Alto CEO Martin Imbleau. The high speed line project promoter said ‘Alto will require approximately 300 000 tonnes of steel. To put that in perspective: it’s enough to reach the International Space Station — not once, but 10 times over. This demand presents a unique opportunity to strengthen Canada’s manufacturing base and spark new investments in domestic production.’
