Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles have urged the federal government to take control of Stelco, a steelmaker based in Hamilton. This call comes after Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that layoffs at Stelco violate the company’s commitment under the Investment Canada Act.
Lewis emphasized the need for immediate government intervention as Stelco’s owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, failed to maintain the agreed number of unionized and non-unionized workers following its acquisition of the company in 2024. Joly has indicated plans to take legal action against Cleveland-Cliffs, but Lewis argues that court proceedings may not be swift enough to protect the affected jobs.
Highlighting the importance of Canada’s steel industry, Lewis pointed out the United Kingdom’s nationalization of British Steel as a successful measure to safeguard jobs. He criticized Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves for supporting tariffs that led to the layoffs, accusing them of harming the economy.
Stiles, speaking at Queen’s Park, urged Ontario Premier Doug Ford to collaborate with the federal government to pressure Cleveland-Cliffs to relinquish ownership of Stelco and transition to public ownership. She stressed the potential loss of jobs and community impact if Stelco were to falter.
Nicolas Lamp, a law and policy studies professor, also advocated for public ownership to preserve Canada’s steel expertise, drawing parallels to the government’s acquisition of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Despite calls for nationalization, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre suggested resolving the issue through tariff-free trade deals to protect workers at Stelco and other trade-dependent companies across the country.
