Sautites needn't worry about any possibility of a ferrochrome smelter being constructed here, says mayoral candidate Matthew Shoemaker, who leads the SooToday poll for mayoral candidates in the Oct. 24 municipal election.
"I frankly don't think that there's any chance the ferrochrome processing facility will come to the Sault, because I don't think the company that now owns the mineral deposits has any interest on exploring that business line," the Ward 3 councillor told a mayoral debate last night at Algoma University.
"I frankly don't think the next council will have to make a decision on that," Shoemaker said.
The Sault electorate stayed away in droves from last night's debate.
Organized hastily by the university's School of Life Sciences and the Environment after a similar forum planned by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce was cancelled because of poor ticket sales, last night's event drew all five mayoral candidates but just 30 members of the public.
The first hour was dedicated to environmental issues.
The second hour dealt with mental health and addictions.
Shoemaker dropped his news about the ferrochrome project while responding to a question about whether attracting heavy industrial investments is compatible with the city's push to develop our tourism potential.
He spoke favourably about Algoma Steel's move to electric arc furnace steel-making, and about Tenaris's ongoing expansion.
"Those jobs at Tenaris are double the median income in Sault Ste. Marie and the office jobs at Tenaris are, on average, over $100,000 a year," Shoemaker said.
"Those types of industries frankly drive our economy in town and they need our attention, and so those are things that we should be supporting when the opportunity comes up to support it," he said.
Noront Resources, a major player in the emerging Ring of Fire mineral district, chose Sault Ste. Marie as its preferred location for a ferrochrome processing plant for its chromite deposits.
But Noront was acquired in April by Australia-based Wyloo Metals and the status of the Sault ferrochrome project has been up in the air since then.
Candidate Ozzie Grandinetti, said last night that he didn't support a local ferrochrome smelter.
"I've not seen any data that shows this would not release carcinogenic pollutants into the river and atmosphere."
Candidate Donna Hilsinger didn't mention ferrochrome but spoke favourably about changes intended to make Algoma a leading producer of green steel.
"It's an opportunity for us to think differently about our future, and how we can have industry, but we can also be respectful and treat the environment well and attract visitors."
"I have not seen a plan by the municipality to push to specifically attract heavy industry," said candidate Robert Peace.
Peace described ferrochrome production as being "completely in contradiction with trying to have environmental tourism."
Peace said he didn't want to see even an environmental assessment done on the ferrochrome proposal. "I'm saying here tonight I don't want it to even get to that point."
"I'm unequivocally against a ferrochrome smelter," said candidate Tobin Kern.
"Our city and our ecosystems have enough industrial pollutants to contend with already. I say this sort of cheekily, but unless you want to become a disaster tourism destination, I would suggest no," Kern said.
The full debate can be viewed here.