Oct 29, 2026 5:37 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has sent a strongly worded letter to Stelco President Paul Simon, demanding the immediate reinstatement of laid-off workers at the Ontario-based steelmaker.
Joly said she is willing to meet with Stelco representatives and Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of its U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs. However, she made it clear that reinstating the laid-off workers would be a precondition for any discussions.
Criticizing Goncalves, Joly said the company cannot use U.S. tariffs, which are hurting businesses on both sides of the border, as an excuse for the layoffs. She also rejected the argument that market conditions had changed, saying the company had sought this course of action and must now face the consequences.
Stelco recently shut down some operations at its Hamilton plant, resulting in approximately 175 workers losing their jobs. The federal government has described the layoffs as a direct violation of employment commitments the company made in 2024 under the Investment Canada Act.




