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Competition Bureau chief urges limits on non-compete clauses for workers
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 17:35:50.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Labour, Economy]Interim Commissioner of Competition Jeanne Pratt sent a letter on October 29 calling on provincial and territorial governments to limit the use of non-compete clauses to foster more competitive labour markets. Citing an OECD survey showing Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of non-compete clauses—covering between 29 and 39 percent of private-sector employees, with 30 percent of firms applying them to all employees regardless of role—the Competition Bureau highlighted negative impacts on wage growth, job mobility, and entrepreneurship. The federal government committed in its 2025 budget to restricting non-compete agreements, while Ontario remains the only province to have enacted a statutory ban through its Employment Standards Act in 2021, which prohibits most new employment non-competes except for senior executives and the sale of a business.
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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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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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Ontario Funding More Than 2,900 Additional Seats in Northeast Ontario to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-26 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Healthcare, Economy]The Ontario government is investing $60 million to fund 2,946 additional postsecondary seats across eight institutions in Northeast Ontario, including Algoma University, Nipissing University, Collège Boréal, Sault College, Northern College, Canadore College, Cambrian College, and Université de Hearst. This funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment supporting more than 70,000 new seats province-wide in high-demand sectors such as STEM, health care, education, and trades, with enrollment beginning in the fall 2026 academic year. The initiative is designed to address regional labour market needs and develop a highly skilled workforce within the postsecondary sector.
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Ontario Funding More Than 2,700 Additional Seats at Toronto Metropolitan University to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-23 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy, Technology, Healthcare]The Ontario government is investing $73 million to fund 2,776 additional postsecondary seats at Toronto Metropolitan University starting in the fall 2026 academic year. This allocation comprises 2,115 seats for STEM programs, 627 seats for health programs, and 34 seats for education programs. The funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial investment supporting over 70,000 new seats across publicly assisted colleges and universities under a $6.4 billion postsecondary funding model.
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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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Ontario Celebrates Small Business Week
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-19 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Finance, Industry, Labour]In recognition of Small Business Week, Associate Minister Nina Tangri highlighted that Ontario's over 500,000 small businesses employ nearly 2.5 million people. The 2026 Ontario Budget cut the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent, providing $1.1 billion in relief and up to $5,000 in annual savings to over 375,000 small businesses. Additionally, the government is investing a record $49 million over the next three years in the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBACs) network across more than 50 locations, alongside ongoing investments in Futurpreneur and Summer Company.
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Ontario Funding More Than 1,300 Additional Seats in Thunder Bay to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-16 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy]The Ontario government is investing $15 million to fund 1,312 additional postsecondary seats at Lakehead University and Confederation College in Thunder Bay starting in the fall 2026 academic year. This funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment to support over 70,000 new postsecondary seats across the province in high-demand sectors including STEM, health care, education, and trades. Lakehead University is receiving 1,062 newly funded seats (830 for STEM, 225 for education, and 7 for health), while Confederation College is receiving 250 newly funded seats (132 for health, 73 for trades, and 45 for STEM). The initiative forms part of the government's historic $6.4 billion investment in Ontario's postsecondary sector to build a competitive workforce.
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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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Ontario Funding More Than 980 Additional Seats at Georgian College to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-15 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy]The Ontario government is investing $25 million to fund 987 additional student seats at Georgian College, starting in the fall 2026 academic year. This funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial investment supporting over 70,000 new postsecondary seats across Ontario in high-demand sectors. The newly allocated seats at Georgian College comprise 668 seats for health programs, 178 for STEM programs, 80 for trades programs, 44 for education programs, and 17 for other labour-market driven programs. The initiative aims to address regional skills shortages, support local workforce development, and meet growing regional population demands in Central Ontario and Simcoe County.
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Ontario Funding More Than 3,600 Additional Seats at Queen’s University to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-14 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy, Infrastructure]The Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security has invested $104 million to fund 3,604 additional postsecondary seats at Queen’s University starting in the fall 2026 academic year. This funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial investment supporting over 70,000 new seats across publicly assisted colleges and universities under a historic $6.4 billion postsecondary sector funding model. The expansion at Queen’s University includes 2,496 seats for STEM programs, 836 seats for education programs, and 272 seats for health programs to address regional labour market needs and workforce development.
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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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Ontario Funding More Than 2,000 More Seats in Southwest Ontario to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-08 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy, Healthcare]The Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security has invested $44 million to fund 2,077 additional postsecondary seats across Southwest Ontario as part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial initiative supporting over 70,000 new seats. Specifically, the University of Windsor received 1,672 newly funded seats (654 for STEM, 549 for health, and 469 for education), Lambton College received 297 seats (160 for health, 90 for STEM, and 47 for trades), and St. Clair College received 108 seats dedicated to health programs. These expansions aim to meet regional labour market needs in high-demand sectors with enrollment beginning in the fall 2026 academic year.
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