Collaborative Approach with Area First Nations with the Redevelopment of the Port of Algoma

Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell along with Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day were among the dignitaries on hand yesterday for the signing of a Unity Pact between the Port of Algoma and four area First Nations.  The signing ceremony was held at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic site  where the Robinson Huron Treaty was signed in 1850.  Port of Algoma CEO Anshumali Dwivedi says the agreement commits all parties to act in a responsible and collaborative fashion with a focus towards environmental protection during the major work ahead with the redevelopment of the port. There is no specific commitment regarding economic opportunities with the more than one thousand construction jobs that would be created with the work…

Here’s Garden River First Nation Chief Paul Syrette regarding economic opportunities…

Dwivedi says overall the redevelopment of the site comes at  an estimated cost of 150 million dollars and there is an immediate need to carry out repairs of existing port infrastructure that dates back almost a century—-that aspect of the work which represents about half of the overall estimated cost,  has been slowed due to Essar Steel Algoma’s restructuring process.