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Joly says she will meet with Stelco owner if company gives 'concrete' plan to bring workers back
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 13:55:47.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a letter to Paul Simon, president of Stelco, stating she will only meet with the company and its American parent firm, Cleveland-Cliffs, if they provide a concrete plan to immediately recall 300 to 350 laid-off workers at the Hamilton steel plant. The dispute follows recent layoffs and public remarks by Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves regarding the rationale behind the 2024 acquisition. Minister Joly is evaluating potential legal action for non-compliance with undertakings under the Investment Canada Act, which require maintaining unionized employee levels at 2024 figures through 2029.
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U.S. steel CEO's 'confessions' for buying Stelco prompted government to call its lawyers: industry minister
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-28 16:11:32.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Labour, Trade, Economy]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that department lawyers were consulted following public comments by Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves regarding the acquisition of Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco. Goncalves admitted in a media interview that Cleveland-Cliffs purchased Stelco in 2024 specifically to prevent it from undercutting U.S. production facilities, prompting Ottawa to review potential legal consequences under the Investment Canada Act. The federal government previously issued a 15-day ultimatum to Cleveland-Cliffs demanding the reversal of announced layoffs at Stelco to maintain unionized employment levels agreed upon through 2029, threatening court action that could include financial penalties or forced divestment.
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The owner of Ace Liquor and Spiritleaf raises its bet on U.S. cannabis, as its manufacturing arm faces a strategic review
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-28 11:00:16.0
Tags: [Alberta, British Columbia, Economy, Industry, Labour, Trade]Edmonton-based retailer SNDL Inc., owner of Ace Liquor, Value Buds, and Spiritleaf, is conducting a strategic review and weighing the potential sale of its unprofitable Canadian cannabis production assets while exiting the dried flower business. The company reported a $52-million write-down and a 28 per cent year-over-year sales drop in its weed production segment, alongside cutting its workforce at its Kelowna, British Columbia manufacturing facility by more than 30 per cent. Simultaneously, SNDL invested $60.8 million into the United States market, acquiring approximately a 92 per cent stake in a partnership controlling Parallel, an American cannabis grower and retailer operating over 50 locations across Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts.
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Canada-EU summit will kick off formal talks on closer ties: Carney
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 17:05:20.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Labour, Resources, Mining]Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with European Union President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU officials in Montreal for a summit launching formal negotiations on an enhanced alliance and deeper partnership over the next year. The talks follow the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and encompass specialized labour mobility, potential Canadian participation in the Erasmus+ student exchange program, and critical minerals collaboration to reduce reliance on China. Additionally, the European Investment Bank has applied for an exemption from Canadian foreign banking rules to operate domestically as part of the critical minerals framework.
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Cleveland-Cliffs says Stelco in 'full compliance' with commitments to Ottawa, wants to meet with Joly
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 12:14:41.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Ohio-based parent company Cleveland-Cliffs announced that Stelco is in full compliance with its 34 undertakings under the Investment Canada Act, following a demand letter from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly giving the company a 15-day deadline to reverse 300 to 350 layoffs in Hamilton and 50 layoffs at the Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke. Despite Cleveland-Cliffs citing U.S. tariffs and the need to ensure company survival for the cutbacks, Joly rejected the rationale and stated that market changes do not relieve the company of its binding commitments. Cleveland-Cliffs requested a meeting with Minister Joly and CEO Lourenco Goncalves to discuss resuming full employment for the affected workers, though the minister has not yet responded.
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Minister giving Stelco owner 15 days to reverse layoffs before turning to the courts
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 14:15:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Trade, Labour, Economy]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a 15-day demand letter to Ohio-based parent company Cleveland-Cliffs, threatening legal action under Section 40 of the Investment Canada Act if it does not reverse planned temporary layoffs of up to 500 workers at the Hamilton-based Stelco steel facility. The federal government asserts that the layoffs violate binding commitments made during Cleveland-Cliffs' 2024 acquisition of Stelco to maintain unionized and non-unionized employment levels through 2029. While Cleveland-Cliffs blamed the workforce reductions on U.S. steel tariffs aimed at ensuring the company's survival, Minister Joly dismissed market conditions as a valid reason to break binding investment commitments and warned that legal proceedings could include monetary penalties and a forced divestment from Stelco.
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Ontario Saving Businesses $160 Million as WSIB Lowers Premiums
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Date: 2026-10-22 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Labour, Taxation, Trade]The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development announced that the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) will decrease its average premium rate from $1.23 to $1.18 per $100 of insurable payroll, effective January 1, 2027, saving employers a total of $160 million. This reduction applies to over 80 per cent of premium-paying businesses—encompassing approximately 330,000 insured businesses and 5.6 million workers—and lowers Ontario's average WSIB premium rate to nearly 30 per cent below the national average. The initiative is paired with broader provincial economic measures to offset U.S. tariffs, including cutting the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent to deliver $1.1 billion in relief, investing $150 million through the Ontario Together Trade Fund, expanding the $1 billion Protect Ontario Financing Program, and allocating $228 million through the Canada–Ontario Workforce Tariff Response.
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Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney Launch New Action Plan to Protect Workers from Tariffs and Strengthen Ontario Industries
Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
Date: 2026-10-21 19:30:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry, Infrastructure, Mining, Energy]The Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada announced a combined $8.7 billion action plan to protect workers and industries from U.S. tariffs. The package includes the Joint Steel Action Fund with $3.55 billion from the federal government and $1.67 billion from Ontario, an additional $2.5 billion over two years for large-scale automotive capital projects (up to $1.5 billion federal and $1 billion provincial), and a federal commitment of up to $1 billion over three years for essential road infrastructure in Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region. Additionally, light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas regulations will be maintained at 2026 levels (172 grams per mile) through 2029 to provide trade-related relief to the automotive sector.
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Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney Launch New Action Plan to Protect Workers from Tariffs and Strengthen Ontario Industries
Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
Date: 2026-10-21 19:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry, Mining, Infrastructure]Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an $8.7 billion joint action plan to protect workers and industries from U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty. The initiative establishes a $5.22 billion Joint Steel Action Fund ($3.55 billion federal, $1.67 billion provincial), a $2.5 billion automotive manufacturing capital upgrade fund ($1.5 billion federal, $1.0 billion provincial), and a $1 billion federal matching investment for road infrastructure in Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire region. Furthermore, the plan creates bilateral task forces for steel, automotive, and critical minerals, implements tighter trade remedies through the Canada Border Services Agency, and leverages Buy Canadian and Buy Ontario procurement policies.
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Carney and Ford set to announce support for workers amid trade war
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 14:47:20.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to announce joint support measures for workers and industries impacted by ongoing United States tariffs. The announcement follows imminent layoffs at Stelco's Hamilton plant after pressure from U.S. tariffs forced production to concentrate at the Lake Erie Works plant in Haldimand. Industry Minister Melanie Joly stated that the federal government is pursuing potential financial penalties and forced divestiture under the Investment Canada Act due to multiple breaches of commitments by Stelco. Additionally, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced that the federal budget will be released on November 5, 2026, following lowered economic growth projections by the Parliamentary Budget Officer of 0.9 per cent for 2026 and 1.5 per cent for 2027.
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Ontario Investing More Than $390,000 to Protect Workers in Hamilton from U.S. Tariffs
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-20 20:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Economy, Trade, Industry, Labour]The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is providing over $390,000 to the City of Hamilton through the $40 million Trade-Impacted Communities Program (TICP) to launch the $588,000 Hamilton Tariff Response Team (TRT). Administered by the City of Hamilton, the TRT will assist local steel and manufacturing businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The initiative operates through two streams: delivering operational support for supply chain diversification into new markets and job retention, and expanding municipal data resources to help businesses adapt to trade disruptions.
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'In a perfect world,' federal government would nationalize Stelco, says Hamilton union leader
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-16 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Labour, Trade, Economy]United Steelworkers Local 1005 union president Ron Wells and political leaders are calling on the federal government to nationalize the Stelco steelmaker facility in Hamilton, Ontario, following layoffs affecting approximately 350 workers. U.S.-based parent company Cleveland-Chiefs implemented the layoffs, citing temporary measures pending U.S.-Canada trade deals and tariffs, while the federal government weighs potential legal action against Cleveland-Chiefs for allegedly breaching five-year employment commitments made during its 2024 acquisition. Member of Parliament John-Paul Danko highlighted that American flat-product steel imports are heavily impacting Canadian production at Stelco, prompting federal warnings that Ottawa will take necessary measures to hold the company accountable.
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Cleveland-Cliffs CEO says he's prepared to fight Canada in court over Stelco layoffs
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-11 21:13:15.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves stated he is prepared to fight the Canadian government in court over employment commitments tied to the 2024 acquisition of Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued an ultimatum demanding a plan to save up to 500 impacted jobs at the Hamilton and Lake Erie Works plants or face potential legal action under the Investment Canada Act. Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed that Ottawa will use all legal powers to pursue Cleveland-Cliffs, while the company defends the layoffs as a temporary measure driven by U.S. Section 232 tariffs.
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Stelco says Hamilton layoffs still happening despite Ottawa's threats of legal action
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-10 18:14:09.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Trade, Labour, Economy]Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco Inc., owned by Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs following a $3.4-billion cash-and-stock acquisition, announced it is proceeding with hundreds of layoffs (impacting up to 500 workers) at its Hamilton Works facility despite legal threats from federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. Minister Joly issued a five-day ultimatum demanding a job-saving plan, alleging that the layoffs violate binding employment commitments under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) to maintain baseline unionized and non-unionized workforce levels established during the transaction. Stelco rejected the allegations, arguing that the undertakings do not explicitly forbid layoffs and that the workforce reductions are driven by external factors beyond its control, specifically United States President Donald Trump's 50 per cent steel tariffs and the idling of its finishing lines. While Stelco submitted a compliance plan offering laid-off workers potential positions at its Lake Erie plant, the company countered that the federal government should instead impose stricter import restrictions on cold-rolled and coated steel products, limit import substitution, and eliminate remissions.
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Trump’s steel tariffs likely here for ‘long term:’ Canadian industry group
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 15:27:46.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Industry, Labour, Economy]The Canadian Steel Producers Association warned the Senate foreign affairs committee that U.S. President Donald Trump's steel tariffs are likely permanent, urging the federal government to strengthen Buy Canadian rules. Meanwhile, Cleveland-Cliffs announced plans to lay off up to 350 to 500 workers at its Stelco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario. Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly threatened legal action and expressed extreme disappointment, noting that Cleveland-Cliffs' 2024 takeover of Stelco was conditional on maintaining employment levels regardless of market conditions.
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Ottawa gives Stelco's U.S. owner 5 days to share plan to keep jobs
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-06 14:56:06.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a five-day deadline to Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs to submit a plan maintaining jobs at the Stelco steel production facility in Hamilton, Ontario, or face potential legal action. The federal government asserts that the planned idling of operations and subsequent layoffs of approximately 500 workers violate binding commitments made under the Investment Canada Act during the company's $3.4-billion acquisition in 2024. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves defended the cuts as a survival move necessitated by U.S. tariffs and the Canada-U.S. trade war, while Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Ottawa will use all available enforcement powers under the law, which include seeking court-ordered compliance, divestiture, or monetary penalties.
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Ontario and Canada Investing over $203,000 to Protect Steel Workers in the Hamilton Area
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Date: 2026-10-06 14:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry]The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing $203,735 through Skills Advance Ontario and the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response to support 75 steel and manufacturing workers and jobseekers in the Hamilton area. Delivered via the Skill Pathways for Work project by Learning Connections Hamilton in partnership with the Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council, Hamilton Literacy Council, and Niagara College, the funding provides targeted training, skills assessments, and digital skills upgrading. This initiative forms part of a broader $228.8 million, three-year federal-provincial agreement aimed at protecting up to 27,000 workers across Ontario from U.S. tariffs and global trade disruptions.
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‘No amount of money’ would have avoided Stelco slowdown, job loss: CEO
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-09-30 13:00:32.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Industry, Labour, Economy]Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., the U.S.-based owner of Stelco, announced a temporary production slowdown and pause on galvanized steel manufacturing at its Hamilton, Ontario facility, resulting in approximately 350 layoffs with offers of positions at a nearby mill. Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the decision as a betrayal of Canadian workers, asserting that federal financial support and various bridging terms were on the table. However, Lourenco Goncalves, the chairman and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, rejected the criticism, stating that the cutbacks were purely market-driven due to a lack of domestic demand for Canadian-produced galvanized steel and an inability to export to the United States under current tariff rates.
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Eastern Canada business leaders call for ‘single economy’ between Atlantic provinces
Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-09-25 14:16:00.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Economy, Trade, Labour, Infrastructure, Energy, Immigration]The Atlantic Economic Panel, appointed by federal minister Sean Fraser and chaired by Crane Cove Holdings Ltd. president Don Mills, released a report calling for the creation of a 'One Atlantic Canada' single economy by 2035 across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. To combat low productivity, labour shortages, and regulatory barriers, the report outlines seven major recommendations, including a $1-billion Atlantic Prosperity Fund, a $25-billion integrated electricity system managed by a region-wide independent system operator, the removal of all trade and labour mobility barriers, and regional infrastructure partnerships. Additional targets include growing the region's population past 3 million with a 1.8 percent annual growth rate, doubling exports to Europe to over $30 billion, mobilizing $100 billion in new natural resource investments, and enhancing the aerospace, defence, shipbuilding, and artificial intelligence sectors.
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Why a plan to end strikes impacting ‘national interest’ is drawing criticism
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-09-22 20:31:21.0
Tags: [National, Labour, Economy, Governance, Trade]The federal government has proposed Bill C-39, titled the Building Canada Strong Act, which amends Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to grant the federal labour minister the authority to end legal strikes and order binding arbitration if a work stoppage adversely affects the national interest. The legislation introduces a special mediator role and establishes broad criteria regarding economic impact and social disruption to guide the minister's intervention. Labour organizations, including the Canadian Labour Congress represented by President Bea Bruske and legal counsel Mark Rowlinson, have strongly criticized the bill as an anti-democratic restriction on the right to strike, while business groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce support the additional dispute-resolution tools.
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