Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles are urging the Canadian government to take over Stelco, a steel manufacturer located in Hamilton, due to recent layoffs that violate the company’s commitments under the Investment Canada Act. Lewis emphasized the need for immediate intervention by the government after Cleveland-Cliffs, the American owner of Stelco, failed to maintain the agreed number of unionized and non-unionized workers following its acquisition in 2024.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has announced intentions to take legal action against Cleveland-Cliffs for breaching their agreement. However, Lewis argued that a legal process would be too slow to protect the affected workers and the steel industry. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding Canada’s steel sector by taking swift action.
Drawing parallels, Lewis highlighted the United Kingdom’s nationalization of British Steel in July, which preserved numerous jobs. He criticized Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves for supporting U.S. tariffs on foreign steel, which led to the current layoffs, accusing the measures of harming Canada’s manufacturing base.
Ontario NDP Leader Stiles called on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to collaborate with the federal government to pressure Cleveland-Cliffs to relinquish ownership of Stelco and transition it to public ownership under Canadian management. Stiles stressed the potential loss of thousands of jobs and the negative impact on the Hamilton community if Stelco were to collapse.
Nicolas Lamp, an associate professor at Queen’s University, advocated for potential public ownership of Stelco to prevent the loss of Canada’s steel expertise. He suggested that the government should consider intervening to protect the industry’s interests and ensure the continuity of essential infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre supported legal actions against Stelco but emphasized the necessity of reaching a trade deal to resolve the issue effectively. Poilievre urged the prime minister to prioritize negotiations for a tariff-free agreement to support workers at Stelco and other trade-dependent companies in the country.