Featured photo for this post: Minister Blair and Terry Sheehan speaking with CBSA Officer Abbot from K9 unit at Border Crossing station downtown
Members of the Northern Ontario Caucus and Minister Bill Blair
Photo Above L to R: Minister Bill Blair, MP Anthony Rota (Nipissing-Timiskaming), MP Marc Serré (Nickle Belt), MP Terry Sheehan (Sault Ste. Marie) and MP Paul Lefebvre (Sudbury)
Minister Blair and MP Terry Sheehan speaking with L-R: Deputy Chief Robert MacLachlan, Chief Hugh Stevenson of SSM police department
Office of Terry Sheehan
Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie
News Release
(Sault Ste. Marie—Aug. 1, 2019)
While Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction was in town, MPs from across Northern Ontario including MP Terry Sheehan, MP Paul Lefebvre-Sudbury, MP Anthony Rota-Nipissing—Timiskaming, and MP Marc Serré-Nickle Belt gathered in Sault Ste. Marie to discuss issues unique to the North.
Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus Chair MP Sheehan and Northern Ontario MPs spoke to Minister Blair about urban, rural and remote concerns including the impact of the opioid crisis, job creation, economic development, and access to broadband in Northern Ontario. Minister Blair promised to take Northern Ontario concerns seriously, and to continue working closely with Northern Ontario MPs moving forward.
Minister Blair and MP Terry Sheehan toured Tenaris Algoma Tubes, and learned more about the plant‘s manufacturing process before announcing $16 million in federal funding to support the expansion of jobs and manufacturing.
Minister Blair and MPs then paid a visit to the border facility downtown, and the dedicated Canadian Border Services Agency workers who protect our border.
The Minister and MPs saw the results of infrastructure and operational upgrades at the facility first hand. While there, agents spoke to Minister Blair about new drug-screening capabilities, including machines designed to detect and neutralize smuggled fentanyl.
“In speaking to the Sault’s local CBSA officers, it was clear the upgrades to their facility and the investments into the CBSA, have significantly improved their ability to work safely and efficiently. Canadians safety and security is paramount and we know the CBSA needs substantial resources to do that job. That is why we invested $85.5 million in Budget 2018 and $1.18 billion in Budget 2019, in the CBSA. Sault Ste. Marie is a great example of how investment and support at our border crossings protects us all.”
THE HONOUABLE BILL BLAIR
Minister of Border Security & Organized Crime Reduction
Minister Blair and MP Sheehan later met with Sault Police Chief Hugh Stevenson, Deputy Chief Robert MacLachlan, and Sergeant Darin Rossetto at the Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Gore Street. Minister Blair, as a former Toronto Chief of Police, was very impressed by the services operating together to help people in the downtown core. Chief Stevenson and Minister Blair discussed the productive relationships between police and service providers in Sault Ste. Marie, and how they might be improved in the future.
“People across Northern Ontario must stick together and speak with a united voice. My colleagues in the North gathered in Sault Ste. Marie to talk about the best way to create more middle-class jobs and develop local industry in a sustainable way. Together as Northern Ontario Liberals, we’ve fought for our fair share both in funding and in representation, and I’m proud the Prime Minister and the rest of Cabinet continue to show up and make decisions with Northern Ontario as a top priority.”
TERRY SHEEHAN
Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie
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