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Sault Ste. Marie's Mayor Matthew Shoemaker Speaks on 1000+ Algoma Steel Layoffs
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker is responding publicly to the latest round of layoffs at Algoma Steel, acknowledging the hardship facing workers while urging the community to keep a long-term perspective on the city’s economic future.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker opened last weeks City Council by addressing the 1000+ Algoma Steel Layoffs that were given out earlier this month.
Shoemaker describes the job losses as deeply concerning for families and the broader community, noting that Algoma Steel remains one of the city’s largest employers and economic anchors. He says layoffs at the plant are never just numbers, but personal disruptions that ripple through local businesses, housing, and consumer confidence.
The mayor points to the ongoing transformation at Algoma Steel, including its shift toward electric arc furnace technology, as a major factor behind the current restructuring. While that transition is expected to modernize operations and reduce emissions, Shoemaker acknowledges it comes with real short-term consequences for the workforce and the local economy.
Shoemaker also discusses the role of municipal government during times of industrial uncertainty, emphasizing advocacy with provincial and federal partners, economic diversification efforts, and the need to support workers caught in the transition. He says the city must remain focused on attracting new investment while protecting the industrial base that has defined Sault Ste. Marie for generations.
