On Monday Mayor Keith?Hobbs successfully got city council to agree to pass a resolution stating the Thunder?Bay is willing to do what it takes to convince Cliffs Natural Resources to bring a proposed ferrochrome processing facility to Thunder?Bay.
But what no one could say was how they plan to do it.
First and foremost the city has to convince the province to do something about the energy cost.
Hobbs said the city is working on something behind the scenes, but couldn’t elaborate at this time.
Fair enough.
Councillors and administration can say how much Cliff’s likes Thunder Bay and wants to do business here.
However, when push comes to shove, they like profits more. If that means taking the unprocessed chromite to Manitoba or Quebec, it’ll happen in a heartbeat if an economic case can’t be made for an Ontario community.
Right now, one can’t make that case.
The province won’t commit publicly to anything and, because of mismanagement in years gone by, their hands may be tied.
Also playing against Thunder?Bay is the transportation end of the deal. If Cliffs can’t get the chromite to the city easily and cost-effectively, it will go somewhere else.
Settle these and the uphill battle can be won. Otherwise Hobbs and company will be this generation’s Sisyphus.
But what no one could say was how they plan to do it.
First and foremost the city has to convince the province to do something about the energy cost.
Hobbs said the city is working on something behind the scenes, but couldn’t elaborate at this time.
Fair enough.
Councillors and administration can say how much Cliff’s likes Thunder Bay and wants to do business here.
However, when push comes to shove, they like profits more. If that means taking the unprocessed chromite to Manitoba or Quebec, it’ll happen in a heartbeat if an economic case can’t be made for an Ontario community.
Right now, one can’t make that case.
The province won’t commit publicly to anything and, because of mismanagement in years gone by, their hands may be tied.
Also playing against Thunder?Bay is the transportation end of the deal. If Cliffs can’t get the chromite to the city easily and cost-effectively, it will go somewhere else.
Settle these and the uphill battle can be won. Otherwise Hobbs and company will be this generation’s Sisyphus.
