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Steel and Aluminum Industry

The debate focused on the struggles of the steel and aluminum industries and the government’s response to the Stelco dispute. Members of the opposition criticized the government for slow action and suggested that current policies, such as the industrial carbon tax and trade restrictions, are hurting Canadian competitiveness, proposing instead that the tax be eliminated and gas projects approved to create demand. Members of the government responded that they are following legal processes to ensure industry commitments are met and highlighted an investment of over $8 billion with Ontario to support the steel, automotive, and critical minerals sectors. The government asserted that its approach is focused on supporting Canadian workers and listening to specific industry needs, while the opposition stated that the lack of direct action and the impact on downstream businesses indicated that the industry was in crisis.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

15 statements

Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“The industry minister said the Stelco dispute would be fixed in days, but operations are still being shut down. Workers cannot pay their mortgages with government warnings. I want the minister to stop giving them more time and start enforcing Stelco's job commitments.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the industry minister said resolving the Stelco dispute was a “question of days”, yet Cleveland-Cliffs is proceeding with indefinitely idling its Stelco cold-rolled and coated steel operations. It has been 13 days since Stelco first responded to her letter and six days since the minister said it would be resolved, and now we learn she is giving them an extra 15 days. Canadians are having a hard time keeping up, and workers cannot pay their mortgages with another government warning. Will the minister stop issuing warnings, do what she said she was going to do and start enforcing Stelco’s employment commitments?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“We are making sure Stelco keeps its promises. If nothing happens in 15 days, we will take legal action to protect Canadian workers and the steel industry.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what we are doing. We are making sure that Stelco respects its commitments under the Investment Canada Act. We are following the process. In 15 days, if nothing happens, legal action will be taken. Our aim has always been to protect Canadian workers and the Canadian industry. That is what we have been doing, and that is what we will continue to do.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“The government is hurting our steel industry. They are not enforcing contracts, and workers are losing jobs because of the carbon tax and American tariffs. Conservatives would scrap the industrial carbon tax, approve gas projects to create demand for steel, and fix trade with the United States. I want the Prime Minister to use our plan.”

  • A repeated line

    “Conservatives would eliminate the industrial carbon tax.”

    Said 5 times by 5 members since September 21.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every single day, it seems like the Liberals’ timeline keeps changing. There are so many things they could do right now to increase competitiveness in this industry. First, they could enforce the contracts they have. Second, this industry needs more customers, competitive costs and market access, yet the industrial carbon tax remains, American tariffs remain and workers face layoffs. Conservatives would eliminate the industrial carbon tax, pre-approve LNG projects to create demand for Canadian steel, and restore access to our largest export market. Will the Prime Minister adopt our proposal so we can give steel and auto workers a fighting chance?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“We did not ask for this. We are responding to an attack from the U.S. government. We are protecting Canadian workers and businesses. That is why the Prime Minister travels to sign trade deals, so our economy has more partners and our industries stay strong.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let us try to make some sense out of all this. First of all, we never asked for this. Second of all, we are responding to an attack from the U.S. administration. Our aim is to protect Canadian workers and to protect Canadian industries. We will always do that. That is also why the Prime Minister goes abroad sometimes and signs trade deals to diversify our economy so we can protect our industrial base.

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Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“Stelco laid off 350 steelworkers, but the government is only sending letters and giving more time. They did the same thing with Stellantis, and workers got nothing. I want to know if the Prime Minister will take Cleveland-Cliffs to court, or if this is just an empty threat.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, three weeks ago, Stelco laid off 350 Hamilton steelworkers. Two weeks ago, the Liberal minister sent a letter threatening legal action, and today she is giving them another 15 days. The Liberals wrote a similar letter to Stellantis. Eight months later, those workers are still waiting for results. The minister stated today that “no act of God” can change the commitments made to Canadian workers, so will the Prime Minister finally take Cleveland-Cliffs to court, or is this just another empty Liberal threat?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal

Linked statement

“We just announced over $8 billion with Ontario to support steel, car, and mineral jobs. The Conservatives should stop talking down our workers and help us keep jobs in Canada.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the member was missing in action yesterday. We just announced with the Government of Ontario more than $8 billion to support a number of sectors in Ontario: our steel sector, our brave men and women who work in the automotive industry and those boosting our critical minerals. Instead of talking our workers and our industry down, why does he not support the government and work with us to make sure that we keep jobs in Canada and grow our industry and make sure that we build Canada strong together?

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Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“The company that bought Stelco broke its promise to protect Canadian jobs. Its leader even supported American tariffs on Canada. The government is taking too long to act. Will the Prime Minister sue this company today?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only action missing yesterday was the action not taken for Canadian workers. Last Friday, the minister said the resolution was a “question of days”. Today, she gave them another two weeks. Stelco’s third quarter this year was the strongest since 2024, yet Cleveland-Cliffs still broke the job commitments it made when it bought Stelco. Its CEO even praised President Trump on his unjustified tariffs on Canada. We cannot let Canada and its workers be bullied by President Trump and his buddies. Will the Prime Minister file a lawsuit today, yes or no?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“I have already answered this question. The Conservatives should join us, Ontario, and the premier in protecting our steel and car workers. They should support our mining investments in northern Ontario instead of criticizing them.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question has been asked and answered, but I will ask a question. Why is it that this opposition party cannot stand with Canadians, the Province of Ontario and the premier, as we have, to protect steel workers, to protect the steel industry, to protect the automotive industry and, yes, to invest in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario? I know the member of Parliament for Kenora has written about the Ring of Fire. Why are they not applauding that investment? Why are they not applauding the kind of critical mineral exploration and development that our country needs? It is appalling.

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Connie Cody

Conservative
“Canada's steel crisis is hurting other businesses now. Stelco is laying off workers, so a manufacturer in my community cannot get the steel it needs. It will lose customers and jobs. What will the Prime Minister do to keep these businesses open and save these jobs?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the damage from Canada’s steel crisis is not stopping at the steel mill. Stelco is idling its coating lines and laying off workers, and the downstream industry is taking a hit. A stamping manufacturer in my community of Cambridge bought its steel from Stelco for years. Now that the supply is gone, it is not able to source what it needs. It will lose its contracts and customers because it cannot get its steel in time. That is more jobs that will be gone for good. What is the Prime Minister going to do to keep these businesses open and Canadians working?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“The Prime Minister and the Premier of Ontario agreed to invest in our companies. This money will help them make steel for car makers and critical mineral projects. The opposition keeps complaining, but we are supporting workers.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have some good news for workers in Cambridge and all across Ontario. The Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister stood together yesterday and said that they were going to control the things they can control. One of the things we can control is investing in our companies to make sure they can produce steel for the automotive sector, for the critical industries that are powering our nation and, yes, for the critical mineral sector in northern Ontario. Guess what. We believe in doing things. The opposition is going to stand up and complain time and again, but we are going to stand up for workers.

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Connie Cody

Conservative
“Throwing money at this problem will not get this company the steel it needs. If it cannot get materials, it will close and people will lose their jobs. The government should adopt the Conservative plan. We want to cut the carbon tax on industry, approve gas projects to create demand, and fix access to our biggest export market.”

  • A repeated line

    “Conservatives would eliminate the industrial carbon tax.”

    Said 5 times by 5 members since September 21.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, throwing more money at the problem will not produce the steel this company needs at this time. How does this make industry more competitive? Conservatives have a plan to eliminate the industrial carbon tax, to pre-approve LNG projects that create demand for Canadian steel and to restore access to our largest export market. If this Cambridge manufacturer cannot secure the material it needs, it will be forced to shut down. Families will lose their paycheques, and customers and contracts will leave Canada. We have a serious proposal to save Canadian jobs. Will the Prime Minister adopt our plan and give businesses a fighting chance?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“We have a serious plan to save jobs, and we are funding it. We are not just criticizing every idea like the Conservatives are.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we actually have a serious proposal to save jobs, and we are putting the money behind it. What we are not doing is standing up there and criticizing every single idea— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“We listen to industry when it tells us what it needs to support Canadian workers. We are working with Ontario to build roads to the Ring of Fire because northern Ontario asked for fast action.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when industry speaks and tells the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario what kinds of supports they need, we listen. We listen, because we know we can actually pivot these industries and support Canadian workers. When northern Ontario puts its hand up and says it wants to be part of the solution and wants faster action on the Ring of Fire, we partner with Ontario. We build those roads. That is what we are doing. We are working hard every day for Canadian workers, and that is how we stand together as a country.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“The industry minister said Canada cannot process aluminum anymore. Over 80,000 Canadians work in that industry right now. It is insulting to say their industry does not exist, and the government's failure to get a deal is what is putting their jobs at risk. I want to know why she is giving up on this industry.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Industry was on Bay Street saying, “We used to be able to transform aluminum in Canada, and we don’t anymore.” The minister should know there are over 80,000 Canadians employed in the downstream aluminum industry right now whose jobs are at risk. Her comments saying the industry does not exist are a slap in the face to every one of those workers. Why is she already writing the industry’s obituary when it is the Liberals’ failure to get a deal that is killing these jobs?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“The Conservatives have given up. We focus on what we can actually do. We invest in the steel, aluminum, car, and mineral industries when they and Ontario ask for help. We support workers and protect their jobs. The Conservatives just vote against workers and criticize the provinces.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only thing I hear in the House of Commons today is the members of Parliament from the Conservative Party who have clearly given up. We are not chasing after things that we actually cannot bring to fruition. We are working on the things we can control. When the Premier of Ontario, the aluminum industry, the steel industry, the automotive industry and the critical mineral industry say this is what we need, we invest in those industries. We invest in the workforce that we need. We support workers when their jobs are at risk. All I see from these guys is them voting against Canadians, voting against workers, criticizing provinces and—

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