Zekelman pays out first $10K in ‘snitch line’ rewards

More than $10,000 has been paid out, part of a foreign steel whistleblower program. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske has the details.

Zekelman Industries says it is sending out more than $10,000 in reward cheques after receiving verified reports of foreign steel being used on publicly funded construction projects across Canada.

The Windsor-based company launched its “Buy Canadian” initiative earlier this month, encouraging the public to flag government-backed builds where imported steel is being used.

CEO Barry Zekelman described it bluntly: “Call it a Snitch Line. You’re snitching on the government, who is bringing in foreign steel at the expense of Canadian workers and Canadian tax dollars.”

According to the company, the first round of $1,000 rewards covers reports tied to sites including the new fire hall in Amherstburg, the St. Clair transmission line in southwestern Ontario, Brantford’s Blanche E. Williams Public School, the PNE Amphitheatre in Vancouver, B.C., the Pattullo Bridge replacement in Surrey, B.C, and the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension.

Zekelman said the volume of early submissions reflects public concern about how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

“Whether it is a bridge in B.C. or a fire station in Ontario, we’re taking a stand for Canadian workers, businesses and the integrity of our infrastructure,” he said.

“The response to the Buy Canadian movement has been overwhelming and we expect to issue additional rewards checks in the coming weeks.”

The campaign follows the federal government’s newly introduced Buy Canadian Act, which aims to prioritize Canadian-made materials in public procurement.

Zekelman maintains his company is not the focus.

“This is not a ‘Buy Zekelman’ campaign; it’s a Buy Canadian movement,” he said in a news release issued on Monday.

The rollout has prompted mixed reaction from local industry voices.

In an interview with CTV News on Nov. 3, Windsor contractor Vince Rosati called the concept a useful check on procurement practices.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.

“It really brings government policy to the everyday person. There are steel mills that have closed. There’s a few steel mills that are dying. It’s time for the government to step up and really encourage private business in the country to keep on doing private business.”

Others questioned the optics of the push coming from a company that isn’t solely Canadian.

“Everybody knows Mr. Zekelman has business across North America and he falls under the free trade agreement,” Unifor Local 195 President Emile Nabbout told CTV News.

“I don’t see any type of loyalty to Canadian manufacturing.”

Still, he stressed the importance of the broader issue.

“We need to do this as a part of our culture to protect Canadian manufacturing and Canadian steel and aluminum and auto,” Nabbout said.

Canadians can report suspected foreign steel use by submitting photos and project details through the company’s website.