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www.cementamericas.com • Fall 2014 • CEMENT AMERICAS FEATURE MCINNIS CEMENT 11 VOLUNTARY RELEASE McInnis Cement has released, on a voluntary basis, the documents re- lated to the environmental assess- ment of the Port-Daniel cement plant project, although the project is not subject to the BAPE process. The documents have been available on the McInnis Cement website since November 2013. Moreover, the mon- itoring committee of the project has been active since March 2013 and an information office has been opened in Port-Daniel since June 2013 to an- swer questions of citizens and work- ers wishing to learn more about the project. "We have received at our offices people who are proud to see this major project move forward, as well as workers pleased to be part of the construction of a project that will have a significant economic impact for years to come, and that will provide quality jobs to the Gaspé region. The Port-Daniel cement plant will favorably position Quebec on the North American export market and strengthen its competitiveness in the cement industry. For years, we haven't seen such a unique project of its type and size in all of eastern North America. We are determined to make the Port- Daniel cement plant a sustainable and profitable project for all Quebeckers," concluded Gagnon. CRITICS ARE TAKING ACTION The construction of one of the most ambitious cement projects in North America has its critics. In July, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) urged the Obama administration to protect Paulding County, Ohio's, cement in- dustry and the thousands of local jobs it supports. In a letter to United States Trade Rep- resentative Michael Froman, Brown called for the administration to crack down on Canada's attempt to "illegally subsidize" the cement industry into the McInnis Cement plant, which would specifically target the U.S. market. "Paulding County workers can com- pete with anyone when given a level playing field," said Brown. "But if countries like Canada illegally subsi- dize their industries, and target the U.S. market, it gives their products an unfair advantage. I urge the ad- ministration to investigate the nearly $500 million subsidy package pro- posed for the Quebec plant, which will directly compete with Lafarge North America's facility in Paulding. Actions must be taken in order to protect Paulding jobs and the econ- omy of northwest Ohio."