Cleveland-Cliffs says Stelco is in full compliance and asks to meet Industry Minister Mélanie Joly

Joly said in an Oct 22 letter that the US company broke job undertakings it signed when it bought Stelco in 2024, after announcing 500 layoffs in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario. She has threatened court action, which could end in a forced sale or a $10,000-a-day penalty.

Union jobs expected, on average

1,879 full-time equivalents; 1,766 required

The company says Stelco expects to average at least 1,879 unionized full-time-equivalent employees this period, 113 above the 1,766 required. It also reports 627 salaried staff against 603 required, and says it meets all 34 undertakings.

Cleveland-Cliffs says the trade war cut Stelco's exports, and that 175 Hamilton workers were temporarily laid off. Stelco asked on Oct 23 for a meeting between CEO Lourenco Goncalves and Joly and had no reply.

"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."

— Industry Minister Mélanie Joly