Experts, Liberal MP hope for full ban on sports betting ads as advocates cite mental health decline

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Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-30 14:50:39.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Healthcare, Social Services, Governance]

Bill S-211, introduced in May 2025 by Senator Marty Deacon and sponsored in the House by MP Bardish Chagger, is currently before the House standing committee on Canadian heritage to restrict sports betting ads across Canada. Supporters including Liberal MP Michael Coteau and public policy think-tank Cardus cite a University of Toronto study showing gambling-related emergency room visits nearly doubled in Ontario, alongside a 161 per cent increase in helpline calls among males aged 15-24 since single-game betting was legalized in 2021. Provincial officials from Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, along with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, have raised concerns regarding provincial jurisdiction, overlapping regulations, and economic impacts on commercial operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.

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.

Stelco must recall laid off workers ‘immediately,’ Joly says in new letter

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 14:04:23.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Labour, Trade]

Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a letter on October 29, 2026, demanding that parent company Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco immediately recall approximately 500 workers laid off at the Hamilton steel plant, or face potential legal action under Section 39 of the Investment Canada Act that could lead to forced divestiture. Joly rejected an interim compliance report submitted by Stelco on October 26 as unsatisfactory. Stelco initiated the layoffs in early October due to reduced operations, offering alternative positions at its Lake Erie facility, which the United Steelworkers union notes has only accommodated about 40 of the affected employees.

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.

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.

Stelco owner says he could sell plant next year after becoming 'persona non grata in Canada'

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 23:34:42.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry]

Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves announced that he is willing to sell the Hamilton-based steel plant Stelco next year following a legal dispute with the federal government over Investment Canada Act obligations. Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly threatened legal action and potential monetary penalties or divestment after Stelco announced 300 to 350 layoffs in September, violating undertakings to maintain unionized staffing levels at 2024 baselines through 2029. While Cleveland-Cliffs maintains it is in full compliance and that the cuts are necessary due to U.S. steel tariffs, Minister Joly stated that potential buyers are already interested in Stelco's Canadian assets.

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.

Canada-U.S. trade talks intensifying but wide gap remains, sources say

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-26 17:30:50.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Economy, Industry]

Trade discussions between Canada and the United States have intensified amid the U.S. midterm elections, though Canadian government sources and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette emphasize that a deal is not imminent and a wide gap remains on key elements. U.S. President Donald Trump and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett have suggested that progress is being made toward an agreement, while the White House recently removed certain tariffs on Canadian goods to assist U.S. Senator Susan Collins' campaign in Maine. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that a fair deal protecting steelworkers, autoworkers, and manufacturing workers would prompt him to restore American alcoholic beverages to Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) shelves.

Canada Post starting weekend parcel delivery in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa this fall

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 19:44:37.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Labour, Transportation, Finance]

Canada Post has launched weekend parcel delivery in Ottawa and Montreal, with plans to expand to Toronto in late November 2026 and to Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary the following year, aiming to reach seven million households by the end of 2027. The Crown corporation reported a pre-tax loss of $482 million in the first half of 2026 and continues to rely on federal loans, though parcel revenue grew by 20.7 percent year-over-year in the second quarter. This operational restructuring follows a month-long national strike in December 2024 and the signing of a new collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that remains in effect until 2030.

Diplomacy or ‘interference’? U.S. warns Canadian officials as midterms near

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 19:14:45.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Governance]

The United States Embassy in Ottawa issued a list of nine points alleging that Canadian federal officials, including Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, and provincial leaders, such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, engaged in foreign interference by attempting to influence U.S. politics and oppose American tariffs. Canadian legal experts and officials, including Carleton University law professor Leah West and former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, disputed the claims, clarifying that overt public advocacy and diplomatic engagement do not meet the legal thresholds for foreign interference under Canadian or American law. The diplomatic friction arises as the U.S. approaches midterm elections amid historically low approval ratings for U.S. President Donald Trump and ongoing cross-border trade tensions.

Ottawa gives Stelco 15 days to reverse Hamilton layoffs or face lawsuit 

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 14:16:39.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Labour, Trade]

Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly issued a 15-day ultimatum to Stelco's U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs, demanding the reversal of layoffs affecting up to 500 workers at the Hamilton steel plant or face federal legal action. The government asserts that the layoffs violate a 2024 binding agreement stipulating that the average aggregate annual full-time equivalent employment of unionized employees in Canada would remain at 1,766 (100% of the baseline level ending June 30, 2024) through 2029. While court action could potentially force the company to sell its Canadian operations, senior government sources acknowledge that judicial timelines may be too slow to immediately protect current staffing levels in Hamilton.

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.

MPs moving to restrict gambling ads in Canada amid mounting harms

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Alberta, Public Safety, Governance, Social Services]

Federal MPs and Senators are advancing Bill S-211, a national legislative framework sponsored by MP Bardish Chagger and Senator Marty Deacon to restrict widespread sports betting advertisements and gambling promotions across Canada. The legislation follows findings from an analysis conducted by the University of Bristol during the 2026 NHL playoffs that revealed up to three gambling messages per minute on televised broadcasts featuring Canadian teams. The push to curb online gambling marketing comes amid rising rates of gambling addiction and a tripling of gambling-related suicides in Ontario following the province's 2022 expansion of private online casinos and sports betting. The provinces of Ontario and Alberta, along with the Canadian Gaming Association representing 80 industry operators, have opposed the federal bill, arguing it infringes on provincial regulatory authority over gaming frameworks.

U.S. Embassy says Carney government brushing off 'potential interference' in midterms

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 21:03:27.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Governance, Economy]

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet accusing the Canadian federal government and provincial officials of attempting to influence the upcoming U.S. midterm elections through targeted lobbying, advertising campaigns, and political event appearances related to an ongoing bilateral trade war and tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford strongly denied the interference allegations, maintaining that all policy responses and trade actions are executed strictly to protect Canadian workers, families, and domestic industries. U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra previously warned that Canadian lobbying against tariffs in key U.S. border states like Michigan and Maine could result in severe economic repercussions.

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.

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.

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.

Carney, Ford to announce funding for clean auto investments: source

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 13:59:35.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Industry, Environment]

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are scheduled to unveil a joint support package on Parliament Hill to assist Canadian auto companies making clean investments. The announcement comes in response to ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions—including U.S. tariff threats of up to 50 percent on cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel taking effect January 1, 2027—and addresses Canada's greenhouse gas standards following the U.S. Trump administration's rollback of federal fuel economy standards. Federal industry and finance ministers are expected to join the premier and prime minister for the announcement.

Stelco layoff legal challenge timeline is in ‘days,’ Joly says

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-16 18:05:12.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Industry, Labour]

Industry Minister Melanie Joly announced that the federal government's legal challenge and resolution timeline regarding steel manufacturer Stelco Holdings Inc. is a "question of days" following the company's breach of commitments under the Investment Canada Act. Stelco began executing layoffs affecting approximately 90 workers at its Hamilton plant—with notices issued and layoffs taking effect—while concentrating steel production at its Lake Erie Works plant in Haldimand due to pressure from U.S. tariffs. Minister Joly warned that Stelco faces potential financial penalties and a forced divestiture requiring the sale of all its Canadian assets if it fails to maintain operational capacity and jobs in Canada.

Ontario Welcomes $479 Million Advanced Manufacturing Investment in London

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-16 13:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, National, Economy, Industry, Energy, Infrastructure]

Hitachi Energy Canada is investing $479 million to establish a 21,000-square-meter Transformer Insulation Centre in London's Huron Industrial Park, creating over 100 new jobs with completion expected by 2028. The facility will feature the world's first transformer pressboard manufacturing line with four formers, capable of producing up to 20,000 tonnes of material annually to strengthen North America's transformer supply chain. The Ontario government is providing up to $20 million in funding through the Invest Ontario Fund, while the Government of Canada is contributing $20 million through the Strategic Response Fund alongside $10 million from Natural Resources Canada.