City council tries to ease the tax burden on Hamilton Specialty Bar

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton has a long and very proud history of producing the steel that built this country's manufacturing sector with good jobs and the growth of related supporting businesses,

AND WHEREAS, in recent years our Steel sector has suffered loses of direct jobs, pensions, benefits as well as the impacts on the local small businesses associated to these plants, as a result of bankruptcies most notably withMANAand US Steel/Stelco.

WHEREAS, Hamilton Specialty Bar has produced high quality steel for over 100 years supporting the automotive industry with 3 generations of workers dating back 1910 and at present has the capacity to employ 250 workers when in full production,

AND WHEREAS, the extended deadline to save Hamilton Specialty Bar with an approved bidder has officially passed and the liquidation bidder American Iron & Metals has taken over the plant.

AND WHEREAS, interested bidders includingKALAdvisory PartnersLLCand the United Steel Workers are still working diligently to keep the viability of steel production and operations at the Hamilton Specialty Bar plant a "Going Concern".

WHEREAS, on March 28, Hamilton City Council unanimously passed a motion calling for City Staff That the City Manager Chris Murray, the General Manager of Planning and Economic Development JasonThorne, and the General Manager of Corporate Services MikeZegaracbe directed to meet the interested parties as appropriate, to explore any and all opportunities for City supports to keep Hamilton Specialty Bar a "Going Concern" with the continued production of specialty steel, the 250 related jobs and workers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

(A) A That Council support, in principal, potential future owners/operators of the Hamilton SpecialityBar operations as it relates to potential property tax payment plans;

(B) That should the Hamilton Specialty Bar operations require future relief as it relates to property tax penalties and interest, that staff be directed to report back to Council with options, including potential support from the Province of Ontario.

(C) That the Mayor on behalf of Council correspond with the Premier the Hon. KathleenWynne and the Minister of Economic Development and Growth the Hon. Steven DelDucato explore any and all avenues of emergency and long term support for the continued production at Hamilton Specialty Bar, the 250 related jobs, workers and pensioners.

(D) That the Mayor on behalf of Council correspond with the Prime Minister the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau and the Minister of International TradeFranois-PhilippeChampagne to explore any and all avenues of emergency and long term support for the continued production at Hamilton Specialty Bar, the 250 related jobs, workers, and pensioners.