Latest news with #Simard
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariffs on Canadian aluminium: the North American supply chain security is at risk
MONTREAL, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - The Aluminium Association of Canada strongly opposes the United States' announcement of a 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium, calling it a misguided measure that threatens the security of North America's integrated supply chain. "A 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium will suppress demand across the continent — whether the metal is produced in Canada or the U.S.," said Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada. "It will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defense, construction and automotive. At a rate of $1,349.50 per metric ton, the tariff effectively makes Canadian exports to the U.S. economically unviable. While Canada remains committed to serving its U.S. customers, the industry may be forced to diversify trade toward the European Union. "This measure risks increasing U.S. reliance on aluminium from distant sources — including China, Russia, India and the Middle East — for a material critical to national security," Simard added. "It jeopardizes 125 years of cross-border industrial cooperation and will trigger a fundamental shift in global trade flows." The Canadian industry supports the U.S. goal of increasing domestic aluminium production capacity from 50% to 80%. However, punitive tariffs do not create the certainty needed for long-term, capital-intensive investments. Even with higher domestic output, the U.S. will continue to rely on substantial aluminium imports. Canada's 9,500 aluminium workers produce metal that is transformed by more than 700,000 American manufacturing workers into essential products. This binational value chain contributes over $228 billion annually to the U.S. economy. A Strategic Energy Advantage to the U.S. Aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, with energy comprising about 40% of production costs. Canada exports 2.7 million metric tons of aluminium to the U.S. each year — the energy equivalent of 40 million megawatt hours, 4 Hoover dams, or enough to power the state of Nevada or 460 data centers. Thanks to its access to hydropower, Canada produces low-carbon, secure and competitively priced aluminium — a vital advantage in today's energy-constrained landscape. This clean energy base reinforces Canada's role as the most reliable source of aluminium from a stable democracy. Protecting a Shared Industrial Base Canada and the U.S. have worked together for more than a century to build a resilient, integrated aluminium industry. That cooperation remains essential to supporting jobs, national defense and economic security. The industry will continue working with American stakeholders — manufacturers, workers, business owners and policymakers — whose livelihoods depend on affordable, responsibly sourced aluminium. Focusing on Real Trade Challenges The priority for both countries should be addressing unfair trade practices by China, whose state-subsidized overcapacity has distorted global markets, forced smelters to shut down and undermined producers in North America. Canada has taken strong, coordinated action to defend the North American market: In 2024, the Canadian government committed $10.5 million over three years to the Canada Border Services Agency to create a Market Watch Unit. New rules target circumvention and allow higher anti-dumping duties in distorted markets. A digital aluminium imports monitoring system was implemented in 2019. Canada leads the world with a real-time aluminium traceability system, tracking every shipment from its source. Canadian aluminium is not — and will not be — a backdoor for unfair trade. Its continued exemption from U.S. tariffs is essential to safeguarding the shared North American aluminium value chain. While the U.S. produces roughly 1 million metric tons of primary aluminium annually, it consumes five times that amount. Tariffs will only raise costs for U.S. manufacturers and consumers at a time of ongoing inflation concerns. About the Aluminium Association of Canada Founded in 1990, the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) represents the three Canadian world-class aluminium producers: Alcoa, Alouette, and Rio Tinto. Operating nine smelters in Canada, eight of which in Quebec, employing over 9,500 workers. The AAC and its members are active in the development of best practices in health and safety and responsible low CO2 production. For more information, visit or X @AAC_aluminium. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Aluminum Association of Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Cision Canada
2 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
US tariffs on Canadian aluminium: the North American supply chain security is at risk Français
, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - The Aluminium Association of Canada strongly opposes the United States' announcement of a 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium, calling it a misguided measure that threatens the security of North America's integrated supply chain. "A 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium will suppress demand across the continent — whether the metal is produced in Canada or the U.S.," said Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada. "It will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defense, construction and automotive. At a rate of $1,349.50 per metric ton, the tariff effectively makes Canadian exports to the U.S. economically unviable. While Canada remains committed to serving its U.S. customers, the industry may be forced to diversify trade toward the European Union. "This measure risks increasing U.S. reliance on aluminium from distant sources — including China, Russia, India and the Middle East — for a material critical to national security," Simard added. "It jeopardizes 125 years of cross-border industrial cooperation and will trigger a fundamental shift in global trade flows." The Canadian industry supports the U.S. goal of increasing domestic aluminium production capacity from 50% to 80%. However, punitive tariffs do not create the certainty needed for long-term, capital-intensive investments. Even with higher domestic output, the U.S. will continue to rely on substantial aluminium imports. Canada's 9,500 aluminium workers produce metal that is transformed by more than 700,000 American manufacturing workers into essential products. This binational value chain contributes over $228 billion annually to the U.S. economy. A Strategic Energy Advantage to the U.S. Aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, with energy comprising about 40% of production costs. Canada exports 2.7 million metric tons of aluminium to the U.S. each year — the energy equivalent of 40 million megawatt hours, 4 Hoover dams, or enough to power the state of Nevada or 460 data centers. Thanks to its access to hydropower, Canada produces low-carbon, secure and competitively priced aluminium — a vital advantage in today's energy-constrained landscape. This clean energy base reinforces Canada's role as the most reliable source of aluminium from a stable democracy. Protecting a Shared Industrial Base Canada and the U.S. have worked together for more than a century to build a resilient, integrated aluminium industry. That cooperation remains essential to supporting jobs, national defense and economic security. The industry will continue working with American stakeholders — manufacturers, workers, business owners and policymakers — whose livelihoods depend on affordable, responsibly sourced aluminium. Focusing on Real Trade Challenges The priority for both countries should be addressing unfair trade practices by China, whose state-subsidized overcapacity has distorted global markets, forced smelters to shut down and undermined producers in North America. Canada has taken strong, coordinated action to defend the North American market: In 2024, the Canadian government committed $10.5 million over three years to the Canada Border Services Agency to create a Market Watch Unit. New rules target circumvention and allow higher anti-dumping duties in distorted markets. A digital aluminium imports monitoring system was implemented in 2019. Canada leads the world with a real-time aluminium traceability system, tracking every shipment from its source. Canadian aluminium is not — and will not be — a backdoor for unfair trade. Its continued exemption from U.S. tariffs is essential to safeguarding the shared North American aluminium value chain. While the U.S. produces roughly 1 million metric tons of primary aluminium annually, it consumes five times that amount. Tariffs will only raise costs for U.S. manufacturers and consumers at a time of ongoing inflation concerns. About the Aluminium Association of Canada Founded in 1990, the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) represents the three Canadian world-class aluminium producers: Alcoa, Alouette, and Rio Tinto. Operating nine smelters in Canada, eight of which in Quebec, employing over 9,500 workers. The AAC and its members are active in the development of best practices in health and safety and responsible low CO 2 production. For more information, visit or X @AAC_aluminium.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariffs on Canadian aluminium: the North American supply chain security is at risk
MONTREAL, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - The Aluminium Association of Canada strongly opposes the United States' announcement of a 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium, calling it a misguided measure that threatens the security of North America's integrated supply chain. "A 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium will suppress demand across the continent — whether the metal is produced in Canada or the U.S.," said Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada. "It will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defense, construction and automotive. At a rate of $1,349.50 per metric ton, the tariff effectively makes Canadian exports to the U.S. economically unviable. While Canada remains committed to serving its U.S. customers, the industry may be forced to diversify trade toward the European Union. "This measure risks increasing U.S. reliance on aluminium from distant sources — including China, Russia, India and the Middle East — for a material critical to national security," Simard added. "It jeopardizes 125 years of cross-border industrial cooperation and will trigger a fundamental shift in global trade flows." The Canadian industry supports the U.S. goal of increasing domestic aluminium production capacity from 50% to 80%. However, punitive tariffs do not create the certainty needed for long-term, capital-intensive investments. Even with higher domestic output, the U.S. will continue to rely on substantial aluminium imports. Canada's 9,500 aluminium workers produce metal that is transformed by more than 700,000 American manufacturing workers into essential products. This binational value chain contributes over $228 billion annually to the U.S. economy. A Strategic Energy Advantage to the U.S. Aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, with energy comprising about 40% of production costs. Canada exports 2.7 million metric tons of aluminium to the U.S. each year — the energy equivalent of 40 million megawatt hours, 4 Hoover dams, or enough to power the state of Nevada or 460 data centers. Thanks to its access to hydropower, Canada produces low-carbon, secure and competitively priced aluminium — a vital advantage in today's energy-constrained landscape. This clean energy base reinforces Canada's role as the most reliable source of aluminium from a stable democracy. Protecting a Shared Industrial Base Canada and the U.S. have worked together for more than a century to build a resilient, integrated aluminium industry. That cooperation remains essential to supporting jobs, national defense and economic security. The industry will continue working with American stakeholders — manufacturers, workers, business owners and policymakers — whose livelihoods depend on affordable, responsibly sourced aluminium. Focusing on Real Trade Challenges The priority for both countries should be addressing unfair trade practices by China, whose state-subsidized overcapacity has distorted global markets, forced smelters to shut down and undermined producers in North America. Canada has taken strong, coordinated action to defend the North American market: In 2024, the Canadian government committed $10.5 million over three years to the Canada Border Services Agency to create a Market Watch Unit. New rules target circumvention and allow higher anti-dumping duties in distorted markets. A digital aluminium imports monitoring system was implemented in 2019. Canada leads the world with a real-time aluminium traceability system, tracking every shipment from its source. Canadian aluminium is not — and will not be — a backdoor for unfair trade. Its continued exemption from U.S. tariffs is essential to safeguarding the shared North American aluminium value chain. While the U.S. produces roughly 1 million metric tons of primary aluminium annually, it consumes five times that amount. Tariffs will only raise costs for U.S. manufacturers and consumers at a time of ongoing inflation concerns. About the Aluminium Association of Canada Founded in 1990, the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) represents the three Canadian world-class aluminium producers: Alcoa, Alouette, and Rio Tinto. Operating nine smelters in Canada, eight of which in Quebec, employing over 9,500 workers. The AAC and its members are active in the development of best practices in health and safety and responsible low CO2 production. For more information, visit or X @AAC_aluminium. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Aluminum Association of Canada View original content to download multimedia: 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
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Essex Council provisionally adopts By-Law to ban most balloon releases
'We all know what goes up, must come down,' Councillor Kim Verbeek said during the May 20 meeting, where Council for the Town of Essex provisionally adopted a By-Law amendment to include a ban on the release of balloons into the air. An exemption includes if such balloons are naturally biodegradable balloons with nothing attached, like strings or ribbons. The amendment will be made to the By-Law that prohibits the dumping or disposing of garbage, refuse, or domestic or industrial waste of any kind on property within the Town of Essex. Final adoption will take place at a future Council meeting. Discussion on the matter originally took place in April of 2024, where Council directed Administration to prepare a report to consider whether or not a By-Law prohibiting the release of latex and mylar helium balloons into the air in the Town of Essex should be passed. Cory Simard, Manager of Legal, Licensing, and Enforcement, prepared a report on the matter that looked at the detrimental effects a balloon release can have on the environment and wildlife. 'Ensuring the preservation of the natural environment is of great importance to the Town of Essex,' Simard noted, adding several communities in Canada and the US have passed by-laws or policies restricting balloon releases. Enforcement, he added, can be accomplished within the current practice of policing the by-law, as the Town's By-Law Department already ensures compliance with it. 'Administration does, however, note by-laws – such as this one – can be challenging to enforce. Without an Enforcement Officer witnessing an offence, or a direct admission, there may not be enough evidence to lay a charge,' Simard said. He added there is no negative financial impact expected as a result of passing this by-law amendment. Harrow resident, Rachael Mills, spoke in favour of the by-law amendment. 'For me, it just doesn't represent a ban on the release of balloons, but a step forward towards a cleaner, more considerate Essex together. It is building on values we already hold in Essex. The work of protecting our environment and community from litter isn't new. The work of Essex residents [has] long cared about our environment, the farmland, the waterways, wildlife, and our neighbourhood.' The By-Law amendment is a natural next step and in formalizing beliefs that celebration should not necessarily come at the cost of pollution and litter, she added. She encouraged Essex to pass the by-law amendment, and suggested any fines collected be used to support community clean-ups, environmental initiatives, and youth programs to get them more involved. That way, the impact of enforcement can be turned into something positive. Councillor Verbeek said the by-law amendment was exactly what she was hoping for last year, when she raised the issue via a Notice of Motion. At the time, Council supported her motion to direct Administration to prepare a report to consider whether or not Council should pass a By-Law prohibiting the release of latex and mylar helium balloons into the air in the Town of Essex. She originally brought this forward as her son picks-up a lot of garbage and was finding a lot of balloons. In looking into the matter, Verbeek said she learned balloon releases become more than just garbage in the community, they can have effects on waterways, damage machinery, and injure or even kill wildlife. She was happy the by-law amendment was being presented before the warner months, before they are typically released in celebration of birthdays, graduations, memorials, funerals, and special events. There are other ways to celebrate, Verbeek said. 'Now we've learned better, so we can do better.' Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley noted when the discussion on this matter originally came forward, he didn't support it as he saw it more of a feel-good motion. He still believes that, and that it will be very hard to enforce, but supported it. He believes creating educational pieces is the important part in moving forward, so members of the public understand the reasons to find alternative ways to celebrate. Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais agreed, and hoped the Town would educate the public on the matter. She saw that as the key to success. She suggested putting together packages for schools and funeral homes, and other organizations that may know of balloon releases, in addition to creating social media posts. Joe Malandruccolo, Director of Legal and Legislative Services, noted staff did plan to provide public education on the matter. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
New Hampshire native Jennifer Simard brings trademark deadpan to Tony-nominated run in ‘Death Becomes Her'
But thanks to a magic potion that grants her eternal youth, Helen gets a gorgeous glow-up and embarks on a quest of vengeance against her rival. When Madeline strikes the same Faustian bargain for immortality, the ladies engage in an unhinged war of brutal insults and bodily destruction involving shovels, shotguns, and more. Advertisement Jennifer Simard Courtesy Advertisement For years, Simard has been beloved by theater insiders for her ability to achieve a big impact with a small but electrifying gesture, slight turn of the head, or strange vocal intonation. That talent is on full display in 'Death Becomes Her' when her character, forced into a mental institution, chews on her 'yummy hair' as visions of her frenemy haunt her addled mind; when the unhinged Helen seduces Ernest with a double entendre-laden song while plotting Madeline's demise. Or perhaps most notoriously, when she's waving away smoke from a gunshot wound to the gut while snarking, Whether she's giving a sarcastic eye-roll, tossing off an acerbic zinger, or seducing with a come-hither stare, Simard intimately understands the art of underplaying. 'It's almost like an experiment. How small can I be to achieve the same result? Sometimes you just have to say the words and not put a lot of frosting on it,' Simard says in a recent Zoom interview from her dressing room at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. 'I always believe in letting the audience come to you, as opposed to pushing. Less is more, so that when you have to paint with a broad brush stroke, it's coming from an honest place that you've already used a fine brush stroke for.' Raves Noel Carey, who co-wrote the music and lyrics for 'Death Becomes Her' with Julia Mattison, 'Jen can get huge laughs with one word set at half volume. … She does a really good job of putting the cap on the crazy and letting it boil. But you can see [Helen's] conniving wheels turning.' Advertisement Megan Hilty, left, and Jennifer Simard, right, in "Death Becomes Her." Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Matthew Murphy 'Death Becomes Her' might be a combination of an uproarious camp sensibility and the grotesquely macabre, but it also contains incisive social critiques — of impossible beauty standards for women, the difficulties of aging, and the lengths people will go to maintain their youthful looks. 'You have a double standard quite often,' Simard says. 'I don't know how many times I've read, 'Wow, she's really let herself go,' and then other people saying, 'Oh, she's had too much work done.'' So Simard takes Helen's fears and insecurities seriously. 'I believe the best comedy is rooted in pain, and Helen has a lot of pain,' Simard says, 'and you can just mine so much humor from that.' In time, the two frenemies realize that they're each other's 'persons,' the yin to their rival's yang. 'These two women don't hate each other,' Simard explains. 'The other woman makes them feel alive, and that's what we discover by the end. It's disguised as this all-out war, but really they just can't live without one another.' Growing up in New Hampshire, just outside of Nashua, Simard performed in musicals in high school and at dinner theaters and regularly attended shows both in Boston and at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. As a little kid, she remembers sitting in the front row at 'Fiddler on the Roof,' tugging on her mother's sleeve, pointing to Tevye's youngest daughter and saying, 'Mom, I don't want to be down here. I want to be up there [on stage],' she says. 'So I knew from a very young age that's what I wanted to do.' Advertisement She attended the Boston Conservatory for a semester, but dropped out when she started landing professional gigs, including a season at Boston's now-defunct outdoor Publick Theatre and a production of 'Nunsense' in the North End. Then she landed a job in the venerable musical-theater parody show 'Forbidden Broadway,' moved to New York, and never looked back. Spoofing Broadway stars and belting big numbers in 'Forbidden Broadway' and performing in the original cast of the long-running 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' was ideal training ground for how to ring laughs out of every moment. 'She's game for anything,' says While Simard had appeared on Broadway in shows like 'Shrek: The Musical' and 'Sister Act' and was beloved by in-the-know fans, it took years of struggling against the tide for her to finally break through to wider acclaim as gambling-addict Sister Mary Downey in 'Disaster!' She earned a Tony nomination for her antic performance, and it led to higher-profile parts in 'Hello, Dolly,' 'Company,' and 'Mean Girls.' 'I don't think anything else I've done subsequently would've happened without it,' she says. 'It put me on a different level — or section of a map.' Simard credits her New England roots for teaching her how to persevere against all odds — 'the industrial Northeast, baby, we're pretty tough' — and her late mother, Yvette, for inspiring her 'devious' and cracked sense of humor. 'She was the funny one,' she says. 'Any humor I have is pretty much through her.' Advertisement Right now, she's basking in that sweet-spot combination of a role that's 'creatively satisfying' in 'a commercial hit that people are clamoring to see. … You just don't take that for granted because it's rare, if it ever happens.' She's also savoring her Tony nomination, which she says epitomized her 'resilience' at a difficult time. 'I've been through a lot in my personal life in the last two years,' she says. After two decades of marriage, 'I've had to navigate a divorce and, like Helen, lean on my best friend — my person. … So to get this recognition now is really special.'
