Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is urging the federal government to sue Stelco’s American owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, as soon as Monday, as part of a five-point plan he says is aimed at protecting Canada’s steel industry.
Poilievre announced the plan Friday in Burlington, Ont., overlooking Stelco’s Hamilton operations across the harbour, where layoffs began this week after Cleveland-Cliffs announced up to 500 workers could be laid off. He said any legal action should seek to bring back workers and restart production at the plant, or force a sale to a Canadian owner willing to resume operations.
“The only thing that we would accept is these workers getting their paycheques, making Canadian steel to build our country,” Poilievre said.
Ottawa’s Response to Cleveland-Cliffs
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has already sent a letter to Stelco president Paul Simon, demanding a plan within five business days outlining how Cleveland-Cliffs will meet its commitments, including maintaining employment levels, or face possible legal action. “They need to comply,” Joly told reporters Wednesday. “If not, we will use the full force of the law.”
Poilievre said Cleveland-Cliffs made binding commitments to maintain unionized jobs and retain the vast majority of non-unionized positions for five years when it acquired Stelco, and argued the company should be held legally accountable for those commitments.
The Five-Point Plan
Beyond the proposed lawsuit, the Conservative plan calls for eliminating the industrial carbon tax, cracking down on Chinese steel imports, accelerating liquefied natural gas projects, and negotiating a tariff-free trade agreement with the United States.
Poilievre also pointed to comments made Thursday by Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves, who said laid-off workers could be recalled if Canada and the United States reach a trade deal. Addressing Prime Minister Mark Carney, Poilievre said, “Get back to the negotiating table to get the deal you promised.”
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