Ottawa warns owner over Hamilton layoffs
Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has warned Cleveland-Cliffs that it must protect Canadian jobs at its Stelco plant or face potential forced divestment. The warning follows layoffs at the Hamilton facility, which the company attributed to low steel prices and U.S. tariffs.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between international trade policies, corporate obligations under the Investment Canada Act, and the protection of domestic manufacturing jobs.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is issuing a fresh warning to Stelco’s American owner, saying it must protect Canadian jobs or face the prospect of being forced to sell its assets in Canada.
Speaking at the Canadian Club in Toronto on Friday, Joly took aim at Cleveland-Cliffs for supporting U.S. tariffs, describing it as “the elephant in the room,” adding that they are directly harming its Canadian operations, while putting hundreds of jobs at risk at Stelco’s Hamilton plant.
“Cleveland Cliffs must uphold its commitments. Full stop,” Joly said.
“We will apply the full force of the law and every tool in the toolbox to ensure that this strategic capacity remains operational, and they must keep the jobs in Canada or face the prospect of having to sell their Canadian assets,” she later added.
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