Wayne Marston defends the Canadian Steel Industry

40:2 Hansard - 53 (2009/5/7)

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, it has been 66 days since the layoffs at U.S. Steel, 66 days of instability and worry for steelworkers and retirees in Hamilton, 66 days of fear, while waiting for the minister to act. It is insulting for the minister to pat himself on the back for finally taking action yesterday after waiting two months to do anything.

New Democrats demanded action 65 days ago. Could the minister explain this dithering to those workers who have lived in fear for two months?

40:2 Hansard - 23 (2009/3/4)

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the shutdown of U.S. steel operations in Hamilton and Lake Erie has hit the people of my community very hard. Over 2,100 people do not know when they will get to go back to work. Now the Canadian press is reporting that the minister was unaware and was caught by surprise.

If the minister is that out of touch with the steel industry, he should resign.

40:2 Hansard - 4 (2009/1/29)

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, like they watched carefully while thousands of Canadians lost their jobs.

Canadian steel companies have been potentially sideswiped by the America bill. We have Americans who are looking for ways to get their economy and their industries working. We should too. That way we can assure that Canadian dollars pay for Canadian steel to build Canadian buildings and Canadian bridges. With buy-Canadian provisions we can benefit from every stimulus dollar.

Other countries are investing in their workers and in their industries. Why is the government not doing the same?