Canada/Saguenay launches initiatives to support the aluminum industry
Saguenay wants to implement concrete measures to support the aluminum industry. In particular, its use would be encouraged in infrastructure projects.
Councillor Jean-Marc Crevier had already announced his intention to table a resolution to this effect at the last Town Council meeting in July.
Municipalities can now give preference to certain materials when inviting tenders, thanks to Bill 79 on contracts for municipal organizations, passed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest.
In anticipation of the law's coming into force, Saguenay's elected officials unanimously adopted a resolution at a municipal council meeting on Tuesday.ance, Saguenay's elected officials unanimously adopted a resolution at a city council meeting on Tuesday to develop a procurement policy favoring materials such as aluminum and wood.
In this way, Saguenay wishes to support regional companies in the aluminum sector in a difficult geopolitical context for the industry.
The procurement department will be working hard to ensure that we always have options," said Saguenay mayor Julie Dufour.
A second resolution was also passed to encourage the Quebec and Canadian governments to also consider aluminum solutions for their infrastructure projects.
An emergency aluminum committee
Saguenay's elected officials are also considering setting up an emergency aluminum committee to deal with the 50% U.S. tariffs that have hit the industry.
In particular, this committee would aim to support processors, for whom the situation is particularly difficult. Rio Tinto, companies and city representatives could sit on this committee. Councillor Jean-Marc Crevier believes that action is urgently needed.
If the 50% stays there, there will be closures. I don't want to dramatize or suggest what might happen, but it's frightening when 90% of your production goes to the United States and you have to pay 50% in customs duties. There's no profitability in that," he explained.
For his part, the president and CEO of Remac, a major aluminum parts manufacturer, took to the microphone during the meeting to praise the initiatives taken by the city. André Poulin hopes they will serve as examples for other municipalities.
Saguenay values its industries and supports its innovators," he said.
Remac, for example, stopped selling its products in the United States because of the 50% tariff on aluminum.
Financial assistance for Mont-Bélu
At the city council meeting, councillors also voted to grant $190,000 in financial assistance to the Mont-Bélu ski center in the borough of La Baie.
The funds are intended to cover the costs of last winter's employee strike and to replenish Société Bélu's working capital. This amount is in addition to the $70,000 already granted to the company in January.
As of January, Société Bélu's legal bill stood at nearly $200,000.
Despite the support of all elected officials, Councillor Michel Tremblay, who is also a member of the Commission des sports et du plein air, expressed his reluctance.
I'm not opposed, but to be honest, I found the legal fees exaggerated, even extraordinary. I hope we'll learn from this one, because the amount we paid for the lawyers makes no sense. I agree that we have to save Mont-Bélu, but I hope we'll learn from the mistakes made by just about everyone, which cost the city a fortune," he said.
Serge Gaudreault wants a review of the DG's powers
Chicoutimi-Nord city councillor Serge Gaudreault has tabled a draft resolution aimed at establishing a better balance between general management and elected officials when it comes to decision-making.
In the middle of a council meeting, the elected official stated that he was unable to obtain certain information, notably concerning the amount of certain contracts, and questioned the City's transparency.
Among other things, Serge Gaudreault denounced what he considers to be the excessive concentration of power in the hands of Saguenay's general management.
Many important decisions are made without the elected representatives, the legitimate representatives of the population, being truly consulted or involved," he argued. It's a silent drift that's taking hold and undermining the democratic role of municipal councillors.
Following the presentation of the project, Mayor Julie Dufour addressed Serge Gaudreault directly, expressing her dissatisfaction and denouncing a form of harassment.
I'm at a loss for words because there are words in there that alert the public. I'm a bit angry," she replied.
I'm wondering if it's misplaced partisanship or a continuity of harassment.
A quote from Julie Dufour, Mayor of Saguenay
In her response, Julie Dufour also questioned Serge Gaudreault's intervention.
I think, Mr. Gaudreault, that you simply don't understand your role," said the mayor.
For his part, Serge Gaudreault intends to present his resolution more formally at next Tuesday's city council meeting.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
