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Cision Canada
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Inspector General of Policing releases his annual report: Ontario's policing system is strong overall, with areas that require attention to meet evolving public safety complexity and demand Français
TORONTO, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Inspector General of Policing of Ontario, Ryan Teschner, released his 2024 Annual Report, "On the Road to Excellence: A Year of Progress and Purpose," identifying the key challenges facing Ontario's police services and some of the actions being taken to address them. The 2024 Annual Report also highlights the significant work of Ontario's Inspectorate of Policing (IoP) to improve the performance of the province's police services and police service boards. "Police services and boards are being asked to navigate complex social issues while confronting operational pressures, emerging public safety risks, and resource demands," said Inspector General Teschner. "At the same time, there is a clear opportunity to move beyond the models of yesterday and towards a modern policing approach that contributes to policing excellence, good governance, and public trust. The Inspectorate of Policing is applying my oversight mandate to anticipate future challenges and ready our public safety system to effectively meet them." The public report, mandated by the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), provides a comprehensive picture of the state of policing in Ontario. The report identifies the common challenges that Ontario's 43 police services are facing across the province's diverse communities. It also highlights successful approaches and initiatives to confront those challenges, including: more officer wellness concerns, alternative models of crisis response with partnerships between police and other responders, the importance of addressing strain in the public order policing system and strategies for improving public confidence in police performance. The report also contains information about how Inspector General Teschner and the IoP oversee more significant, real-time policing operations to ensure adequate and effective policing, including ongoing border policing operations led by the Ontario Provincial Police. "April 1, 2024, marked an important milestone in Ontario policing with the coming into force of the CSPA and the start of my role as Inspector General of Policing. This is more than legislative change. It is the first of a generation and an important step in a more modern, transparent, and accountable policing system" said Inspector General Teschner. "As we continue to leverage our independent research and data intelligence, we are identifying and helping the sector adopt leading practices to drive improved performance, ensuring that high-quality policing and police governance are delivered to make everyone in Ontario safer." The annual report also includes information about how the Inspector General has been fulfilling his legislative responsibilities to independently oversee the compliance and performance of all Ontario's police service boards, municipal police services and the Ontario Provincial Police, First Nation police services and boards constituted under the CSPA, and special constable employers. The oversight activities detailed for the first year of the IoP's operations include: inspections conducted; public complaints investigated and dealt with, including statistical information about public complaints; and turning information into data intelligence to drive risk-based decision-making and apply the right oversight tools at the right time. The key oversight activities highlighted in the report include: The IoP launched 46 complaint-based inspections in response to public concerns that identify common emerging themes, including: police response during protests, handling of intimate partner violence cases, quality of investigations, traffic enforcement, delays in response and communication, and issues with records checks. The IoP launched the first Policing Insight Statement survey to gather perspectives from all of Ontario's chiefs of police and police service boards to help identify areas of common opportunity and challenge across the sector. Inspector General Teschner released the first-ever Spotlight Report on the policing of protests and major events, assessing compliance with provincial requirements for maintaining public order policing. Inspector Teschner concluded that Ontario's public order policing is strong but under strain, and included 12 recommendations for police services, boards, and the Ministry of the Solicitor General to improve the system's long-term performance. The Inspector General launched the first issue-specific inspection under the CSPA. The inspection of the Thunder Bay Police Service and Board began in October 2024. The inspection is examining how the police service conducts death and missing persons investigations, as well as how the police service and board are addressing recommendations issued by other oversight bodies that have reviewed policing and governance in Thunder Bay. The report also looks ahead to the IoP's priorities, including establishing a Centre of Excellence, building a provincial policing performance measurement framework, preparing for a thematic inspection of police response times, and independently monitoring significant policing operations to ensure adequate and effective delivery of policing occurs. "Ontario's policing system is strong, and there are opportunities to strengthen it further, so it meets evolving and complex public safety challenges. At the Inspectorate of Policing, we will continue to focus on areas of greatest risk, while identifying how to improve compliance and performance" said Inspector General Teschner. "By applying my mandate to encourage the sector-wide uptake of leading and innovative practices, Ontario can continue to distinguish itself as an international policing and police governance leader." The 2024 Annual Report covers activities from January 1 to December 31, 2024, and is available online. About the Inspector General of Policing Appointed in March 2023, Ryan Teschner is Ontario's first Inspector General of Policing with independent duties and authorities under the Community Safety and Policing Act. The role of the Inspector General serves the public interest by promoting improved performance and accountability in the policing sector, while ensuring compliance with the CSPA and its regulations. Inspector General Teschner leads the Inspectorate of Policing, an oversight body dedicated to ensuring high-quality policing and governance across Ontario.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ottawa to curb steel imports with tariff rate quota on certain countries
The federal department of finance says it will limit the amount of foreign steel coming into the country by placing a tariff on imports that exceed a certain threshold from countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Canada. The policy, known as a 'tariff rate quota,' announced on Friday allows non-free trade countries to send the same volume of steel to Canada that they sent in recent years, but applies a 50 per cent tariff if they exceed a designated threshold in any single quarter. The United States earlier this month raised tariffs on foreign steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. The result has effectively closed the U.S. as a longterm market to many of Canada's largest steel producers, as well as those in other countries. Now, steel companies say they are trying to grow their domestic sales at the same time as steel producers around the globe eye the Canadian market as a way to offset lost sales in the U.S. As a result, lobbyists have been pressing the Liberal government to protect the industry. 'The industry had asked repeatedly for significantly lower import levels on unfair traders to regain market share at home,' Catherine Cobden, chief executive of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), which represents the 17 largest domestic steel companies, said in a release on Thursday. 'We believe it is long overdue.' But the CSPA has been clear that its members would like the federal government to enact policies that go further. Earlier this month, its board members travelled to Ottawa for a meeting with some key ministers. Michael Garcia, chief executive of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based Algoma Steel Group Inc., said he asked the government for a tariff rate quota that would apply a 20 per cent tariff on steel from all countries, including those that have free trade agreements with Canada. 'That would be something that would have a meaningful impact on the health of the Canadian steel sector,' he said. Historically, Algoma has said it sells 50 per cent to 60 per cent of its products, measured by volume, into the U.S. Now, that level has fallen below 50 per cent and is still shrinking as the fallout from the U.S.'s 50 per cent tariffs continues. Canada imported 8.3 million tonnes of steel in 2024, a 5.5 per cent decline from 2023, according to the U.S. International Trade Monitor. Canada also exported about 6.4 million tonnes of steel, mainly to the U.S., where it is the largest source of foreign steel. A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry said that non-free trade agreement countries sent 2.6 million tonnes to Canada in 2024. 'This measure will help stabilize the Canadian market and prevent harmful diversion of foreign steel from third countries into Canada while minimizing impacts on Canadian importers and downstream users,' the Department of Finance said in announcing the measures. The new tariff rate quota will be apply to five categories of steel products: flat, long, pipe and tube, semi-finished and stainless steel. It would be additive to any existing surtaxes. At a rate of 50 per cent, it would be equal to the rate that is being applied to steel imports by the U.S. Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this month announced a series of measures designed to address the impacts of U.S. tariffs on domestic steel mills, with the tariff rate quota being just one policy. Carney also signalled a forthcoming tariff based on the country of 'melt and pour' for steel. He also committed to using more domestically produced steel in public works projects. But curbing steel imports could have impacts that reverberate throughout the economy. Many of the country's smaller steel companies, which do not melt their own steel but instead rely on imported steel, say their products are thoroughly integrated into the Canadian economy: They cut or fabricate imported steel into rebar and other products that are used in housing and infrastructure and by various industries. Those companies have argued that the domestic steel mills cannot always accommodate their orders, forcing them to rely on imports. But several insiders said they were reluctant to speak publicly because they still rely on domestic mills and fear that speaking out against policies that limit imports could harm their business. Carney has created an industry-government steel task force to review the impact of the new tariff rate quotas in 30 days. Whatever the impact of the new policies have on steel imports, the U.S. tariffs have created what Cobden called a 'dire' situation for domestic steel mills, which melt their own steel. There have been an estimated 1,000 layoffs in the Canadian sector. Carney announces new measures to protect Canada's steel and aluminum industries ArcelorMittal to close Hamilton wire-drawing mill, cutting 153 jobs Garcia said everyone in the steel sector is hopeful that Carney will strike a trade deal with the U.S. by July 21, as was suggested during the G7 meeting that took place in Alberta in June. 'That's why everybody in the steel industry is watching that date closely,' he said. 'If that date passes, and there's no confidence that the 50 per cent tariff is going to be moved down in any significant way, that's going to have ramifications for the steel industry in a very significant way.' • Email: gfriedman@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Calgary Herald
27-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Canadian steel firms say weak tariff response risks wider layoffs
A group of Canadian steel producers said the government's plan to restrict foreign steel imports isn't strong enough and warned that the industry is set to shed thousands more jobs because of U.S. tariffs. Article content Prime Minister Mark Carney's government introduced new tariff-rate quotas last week to limit imports of steel and said it may adjust tariffs on U.S. steel products on July 21, depending on the status of trade talks with the Trump administration. Article content Article content The U.S. has increased tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to 50%. So far, Canada has decided not to match that, keeping its retaliatory levies at 25%. Article content Article content 'We have significantly dropped shipments and have experienced close to 1,000 job losses to date and are preparing for thousands more,' Catherine Cobden, chief executive officer of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, said in a statement Thursday. 'We are concerned that the immediate measures fail to address the crisis we are in.' Article content The tariff-rate quotas apply to steel-exporting countries that Canada doesn't have a trade agreement with. They only kick in if those countries exceed the volumes of steel they shipped to Canada last year. That 'will do little to support our industry,' said the CSPA, which represents producers including Algoma Steel Group Inc. and ArcelorMittal SA. Article content Article content The United Steelworkers union also criticized the government's plan as 'too narrow,' saying it doesn't apply to two-thirds of imports to Canada, including from countries including South Korea and Vietnam, 'despite repeated dumping violations.' Article content Article content
Global News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Steel tariff measures ‘fail to address the crisis we are in,' industry says
The Canadian steel industry says the federal government's recently-announced measures to combat the impacts of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs 'fail to address the crisis we are in.' Thursday's statement from the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) takes particular issue with immediate measures like a tariff rate quota on foreign steel products, which the industry group says should be far lower to prevent the dumping of those materials at the expense of domestic producers. 'In its current form, the (tariff-rate quota) will do little to support our industry,' CSPA president and CEO Catherine Cobden said. 'While we appreciated their willingness to act, we are concerned that the immediate measures fail to address the crisis we are in.' The measures unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet last week include a tariff rate quota of 100 per cent of 2024 levels on imports of steel products from non-free trade agreement partners in order to prevent oversupply of those metals. Story continues below advertisement The goal, Carney said, is to ensure foreign steel diverted away from the U.S. due to its 50 per cent tariffs don't end up in Canada. The government also intends to introduce new tariffs in the coming weeks to protect Canadian industries from unfair trading practices and global overcapacity, but has not set a specific date for those measures. The timeline, Cobden said Thursday, 'is at odds with the extreme urgency we are feeling.' 1:48 Carney to increase U.S. steel, aluminum tariffs if trade talks with Trump stall U.S. President Donald Trump first imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum at a 25 per cent rate in March, and later raised the rate to 50 per cent earlier this month. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The unjustified tariffs have delivered a significant blow to our industry,' which had previously considered the U.S. a 'destination market' for 6.5 million tonnes of Canadian steel, Cobden said. Story continues below advertisement During that time, according to the CBSA, steel producers in Canada 'have significantly dropped shipments (to the U.S.) and have experienced close to 1,000 job losses to date and are preparing for thousands more.' Global News has reached out to Industry Minister Melanie Joly's office for comment on the CBSA's latest statement. Immediately following the government's announcement last week, the CBSA and the United Steelworkers Union said in a joint statement that the measures 'fall short' of what they had been asking for. The steel industry's reaction to the government measures has contrasted with that of the Aluminum Association of Canada. 'We find that these announcements strike the right balance between sending a strong signal towards focused and accelerated negotiations and using a measured approach through adaptive counter-tariffs and reciprocal procurement policies,' president and CEO Jean Simard said in a statement last week. 2:14 Canada announces retaliatory measures on US steel, aluminum tariffs In its announcement, the government said it plans to ensure Canadian steel, as well as tariff-free products from 'reliable trading partners,' are prioritized for federal procurement and future public projects, as well as in supply chains for domestic sectors like the auto industry. Story continues below advertisement Cobden on Thursday called those long-term commitments 'laudable.' 'However, without the right border actions, our steel producers will be unable to contribute to projects around our country because we will be a significantly reduced and weakened industry.' The CBSA also praised Carney's commitment to 'adjust' Canada's counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum depending on the outcome of broader trade and security negotiations with the Trump administration. Carney and Trump set a 30-day timetable for those talks at the G7 leaders' summit last week. The government said in announcing the steel and aluminum measures that it intends to review its plan in 30 days, including input with industry groups. The prime minister also announced last Thursday the creation of two separate task forces for steel and aluminum that will meet to monitor the situation and advise the government.
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Canadian Steel Producers Respond to Government of Canada's Plan for our Industry
OTTAWA, ON, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), released the following statement: "Canadian steel producers face a dire situation. The unjustified tariffs by the United States have delivered a significant blow to our industry. Initially set at 25% and adjusted to 50% on June 4 th, these tariffs are devastating. The US was a destination market for 6.5 million tonnes of Canadian steel. Consequently, we have significantly dropped shipments and have experienced close to one thousand job losses to date and are preparing for thousands more. "Last week, the Canadian government announced a package of new and future measures to address the steel sector's concerns. While we appreciated their willingness to act, we are concerned that the immediate measures fail to address the crisis we are in. "A newly proposed border measure – a tariff rate quota (TRQ) – has been announced that will continue to allow high levels of foreign steel into our country tariff-free. The industry had asked repeatedly for significantly lower import levels on unfair traders to regain market share at home. We believe it is long overdue to expect a rules-based trading environment within Canada. In its current form, the TRQ will do little to support our industry. "While our sector applauds the proposal for additional measures to fight global overcapacity with our melted and poured policy, the government's plan to implement these only in the coming weeks is at odds with the extreme urgency we are feeling." "The government has set a 30-day deadline for a new economic and security relationship with the United States. We appreciate the government's plan to reinstate a strong counter tariff package on the US depending on how those discussions progress. It remains a fact however that significant volumes of US steel continue to enjoy the privilege of entering Canada tariff-free while we face a 50% tariff that has essentially closed the US market to the Canadian industry. "It is encouraging to hear renewed commitments to use steel in future public projects where this is feasible. This is a laudable long-term objective. However, without the right border actions, our steel producers will be unable to contribute to projects around our country because we will be a significantly reduced and weakened industry. "The government has committed to review the elements of this plan in 30 days. It is our sincerest objective to work with the government constructively to find a path forward that supports our country and our industry as quickly as possible." About the Canadian Steel Producers Association The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) is the national voice of all primary steel producers and some of the country's largest steel consumers. Our 17 members supply the essential materials to key sectors such as automotive, energy, construction, and transportation—driving jobs and economic growth across North America. The CSPA advocates for a competitive and sustainable business environment that strengthens the steel sector and its supply chains.
