Poilievre unveils five-point steel plan, demands immediate lawsuit against Stelco owner
Conservative Leader calls for federal action as Cleveland-Cliffs lays off up to 500 workers at Hamilton facility. Industry Minister Joly already sent company a warning letter.
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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a five-point plan Friday to address layoffs at Stelco's Hamilton operations, calling on the federal government to sue Cleveland-Cliffs, the company's American owner.
Poilievre made the announcement in Burlington, overlooking the Stelco facility across the harbour, as up to 500 workers received layoff notices this week. The Conservative leader said the lawsuit should begin "as soon as Monday" with the goal of forcing Cleveland-Cliffs to either restart production and bring workers back to their jobs or sell the operation to a Canadian owner willing to do so.
"The only thing that we would accept is these workers getting their paycheques, making Canadian steel to build our country," Poilievre said.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had already moved on the issue, sending a letter to Stelco president Paul Simon on Monday demanding a plan within five business days outlining how Cleveland-Cliffs will meet its employment commitments, or face possible legal action. "They need to comply. If not, we will use the full force of the law," Joly told reporters Wednesday.
Poilievre's five-point plan includes eliminating the industrial carbon tax, cracking down on Chinese steel imports, accelerating liquefied natural gas projects, negotiating a tariff-free trade agreement with the United States, and suing Stelco's American owner. He noted that 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.
On Thursday, Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves suggested laid-off workers could be recalled if Canada and the United States reach a trade deal — a signal of the company's willingness to negotiate, though no formal response to either Joly's letter or Poilievre's plan has been made public.
Poilievre directed his closing remarks at Prime Minister Mark Carney: "Get back to the negotiating table to get the deal you promised."
What legal grounds does the government believe it has to sue Cleveland-Cliffs?
Has Cleveland-Cliffs formally responded to Industry Minister Joly's five-business-day deadline?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
By the numbers
How many workers received layoff notices at the Hamilton Stelco facility?
Up to 500 workers at Stelco's Hamilton operations received layoff notices during the week of October 5, 2026.
What are the five points in Poilievre's steel plan?
Eliminate the industrial carbon tax, crack down on Chinese steel imports, accelerate liquefied natural gas projects, negotiate a tariff-free trade agreement with the United States, and sue Cleveland-Cliffs, Stelco's American owner.
When did Industry Minister Joly send her letter to Stelco?
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly sent a warning letter to Stelco president Paul Simon on Monday, October 5, 2026, demanding a plan within five business days outlining how Cleveland-Cliffs will meet its employment commitments.
