Steelmaker Cliffs defends Stelco cuts, seeks Joly meeting

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Defence Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Defence Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Defence Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeCommoditiesEconomySteelmaker Cliffs defends Stelco cuts, seeks Joly meetingIndustry Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday that the government received the letter and its message to Stelco remains clearAuthor of the article:Last updated 7 minutes ago Cleveland-Cliffs has blamed U.S. tariffs and weak demand for the products, while the Canadian government says the layoffs violate employment commitments made by the company. Photo by Peter Power/PostmediaSteelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. again defended its decision to idle a steel plant in Ontario in a letter to the Canadian government on Monday, saying it’s in compliance with the commitments it made when it bought the asset.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountCliffs’ subsidiary Stelco Inc. submitted an updated compliance report to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, the company said. It expects average annual employment of at least 1,879 unionized full-time-equivalent workers during the current reporting period, above the 1,766 required under the 2024 acquisition agreement. Salaried employment is expected to average at least 627, compared with a requirement of 603.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The letter comes amid an escalating dispute over Stelco’s plans to indefinitely idle cold-rolled and coated steel operations at its Hamilton Works facility, affecting as many as 500 workers across its Ontario operations. Cleveland-Cliffs has blamed United States tariffs and weak demand for the products, while the Canadian government says the layoffs violate employment commitments made when the U.S. company acquired Stelco in 2024.Joly said Tuesday that the government received the letter and its message to Stelco remains clear.“First and foremost, what I want is a plan to bring back the jobs and I want a timeline. And of course I’m always willing to sit down, but that’s the first condition,” she told reporters in Ottawa.The government’s position is still that Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco have not respected their undertakings, she said. They haven’t maintained job numbers and they also “had a clear commitment to make sure that there would be advocating in favor of tariff-free access of Canadian steel to the U.S.,” she said.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Joly warned last week that the government could pursue legal action if Cleveland-Cliffs fails to address alleged violations within 15 days, potentially seeking a court order requiring the company to sell its Canadian operations. Cliffs has disputed Ottawa’s interpretation of its commitments, arguing that the agreement requires it to maintain average annual employment levels rather than prevent layoffs on any given day.The company said chief executive Lourenco Goncalves and Stelco requested a meeting with Joly on Oct. 23 to discuss restoring full employment for 175 workers in Hamilton who have been temporarily laid off. The minister has not yet responded to the request, the company said.— With assistance from Brian Platt and Laura Dhillon Kane.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.