Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to take public ownership of Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco following plans to cut hundreds of jobs.
The call comes after Stelco’s American owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, announced 300 to 350 layoffs at its Hamilton facility amid the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says the planned job cuts breach the company’s commitments under the Investment Canada Act.
When Cleveland-Cliffs purchased Stelco in 2024, it agreed to maintain existing employment levels among unionized workers and similar staffing levels among non-union employees for five years. However, CEO Lourenco Goncalves argues that temporary layoffs are permitted under the agreement until both countries reach a trade deal.
Lewis said legal action alone would take too long to protect workers and the domestic steel industry. He called on the federal government to intervene immediately, warning that Canada could not afford to lose its steelmaking capacity. He also pointed to the United Kingdom’s decision to bring British Steel into public ownership as an example of government intervention to protect industrial jobs.
Meanwhile, Joly has threatened legal proceedings against Cleveland-Cliffs, stating that the government is considering all available options. Goncalves, however, maintains that the company has not violated its contractual obligations and has defended the layoffs as temporary measures.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles has also called on Premier Doug Ford to work with Ottawa to secure public ownership of Stelco under Canadian management. She warned that the company’s decline could threaten thousands of jobs and harm Hamilton’s wider economy.
Stiles and fellow NDP representatives Sandy Shaw and Robin Lennox also urged the provincial government to introduce financial relief for the steel industry to offset tariff-related pressures. They proposed a “Buy Ontario First” procurement policy to prioritize local industries and support Canadian steel producers.
The dispute has intensified pressure on federal and provincial governments to protect manufacturing jobs as trade tensions continue to affect Canada’s steel sector.
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