500 New High-Tech Jobs Coming to Sault Ste. Marie: Ballistic Steel Center to Boost Canadian Defense Industry

Major Job Announcement in Sault Ste. Marie

A Canadian Centre of Excellence for Ballistic Steel Production announced on April 8 will be located in Sault Ste. Marie, creating up to 500 new jobs, as confirmed by Algoma Steel Inc.

Details of the New Facility

When the Sault steelmaker and Brampton-based armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel Inc. announced the new centre, up to 500 new jobs were mentioned, but the location was initially unclear. Laura Devoni, Algoma's vice-president of human resources and corporate affairs, clarified at a community engagement open house: "We could see a sizable production facility here in Sault Ste. Marie."

"Yesterday, we announced the Roshel Algoma Defence Solutions (RADS), which will be located here," Devoni said. "Up to 500 employees. It's contingent on light utility vehicles."

What RADS Will Produce

RADS will produce ballistic steel that protects against bullets and explosive blasts. This steel will be marketed for military purposes, including:

• Light utility vehicles (LUVs)
• The Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) program
• Ships and submarines
• Broader Canadian defence needs

It will also be used in other industries, such as aerospace, infrastructure, marine, and security platforms.

Separate from Previous Job Promises

The possibility of up to 500 new RADS jobs is not to be confused with 500 other jobs promised in December by federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. Those jobs are expected to happen next year in a new Algoma Steel plant for manufacturing structural beams and enhanced plate.

The final paperwork to make the beam plant a reality has yet to be signed, but Devoni noted that negotiations are ongoing.