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Steel and Aluminum Industry

Oral questions on job losses in Canada’s steel industry. Conservatives said 350 Stelco steelworkers in Hamilton are losing their jobs, and asked when the government would act on U.S. tariffs and require Canadian steel to be used for major projects, citing Chinese steel being used for LNG Canada phase two. Liberals said the layoffs were hard on Hamilton, that ministers spoke with Stelco’s owner and offered support the company declined, that the company has obligations under the Investment Canada Act which the government will enforce, and that Canada needs to make steel for domestic projects like LNG Canada; a minister also listed energy projects he said would create thousands of jobs.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Ned Kuruc

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister failed to get a deal to stop steel tariffs, and now 350 steelworkers in Hamilton have lost their jobs. I want to know when he will take real action to protect Canadian workers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there was devastating news last week. Chris, a Stelco employee, called me to say that he and 350 of his fellow union Local 1005 steelworkers are out of a job. This is the human cost of the Prime Minister’s failed attempts to get a tariff deal, the same deal he promised Canadians over a year and a half ago. Now the tariffs are still here, bigger than before, and Hamilton steelworkers are paying the price. When will the Prime Minister turn rhetoric into reality to protect Canadian jobs and Hamilton workers?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The layoffs at Stelco hurt workers and families in Hamilton, and we support them. I spoke directly with the company's owner and offered our help until the last minute, but the company rejected it. The owner also supports tariffs against steelworkers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that the news at Stelco was a gut punch to the workers, their families and the entire community of Hamilton, and our government stands with them. I had personal conversations with the owner of Stelco, Lourenco Goncalves, who owns Cleveland-Cliffs. We offered the company support, and notwithstanding the fact that we were at the table until the last minute, it decided to turn it down. Now we know also that the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs has been in favour of tariffs against steelworkers—

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Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“The Prime Minister failed to protect Canadian business, and now steelworkers are losing their jobs. I want him to take real action to protect these workers and their families.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “The Liberals are all talk and no results.”

    Said 13 times by 12 members since September 21.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have talked about holding the company accountable, but I am going to do my job and hold the government accountable. The Prime Minister’s duty is to keep Canada in a competitive business climate, but he has failed. I have stood in the House multiple times to warn the Prime Minister this was coming. The out-of-touch Liberals need to understand we cannot build without protecting the people who actually build Canada. With the Prime Minister, it is all talk and no results. Again, how many more families must lose their livelihood before the Prime Minister protects Canadian—

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“We have always supported steelworkers, and we will keep supporting them. The companies buying and running Stelco have legal duties, and we will use the full force of the law to hold them to their promises.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 39 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have been there for steelworkers and will continue to be, and we will work together, along with the member, because we believe in Stelco and its workers. That being said, at the same time, Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco have obligations under the Investment Canada Act, and we will make sure that we use the full force of the law.

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Ellis Ross

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to buy Canadian steel for big projects. Instead, projects are using steel from other countries like China while Canadian steelworkers lose their jobs. When will the government start buying Canadian?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the reannouncement of LNG Canada phase two is old news, but we now know that steel being used for that project is from China. The Prime Minister promised Canadians he would buy Canadian and use Canadian-made steel for major projects. Instead, he is allowing companies to use foreign steel while Canadian steelworkers are facing layoffs. We have seen the government buy American, and now we are seeing it buy Chinese. When is it time to buy Canadian?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The Conservatives should support these energy projects. They will create thousands of jobs for Canada.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 42 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, maybe it is time for the Conservatives to get behind 6,000 new jobs in Canada for LNG Canada. Maybe it is time for them to get behind 180,000 new jobs for the Pacific link pipeline. Maybe it is time for them to get behind 2,000 new jobs for the Sunrise pipeline. How about getting on team Canada?

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Ellis Ross

Conservative
“Hundreds of Canadian steelworkers are losing their jobs while the government lets a major project use Chinese steel. The government knew about this. Why did it not stand up for Canadian workers and businesses?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, 350 Canadian steelworkers are losing their job at Stelco, all while the government knew and allowed LNG Canada phase two to use Chinese steel. The Liberal government granted a remission order on anti-dumping duties in phase one, so it cannot claim ignorance. Why did the Liberals not fight for Canadian-made steel, for Canadian jobs and for Canadian businesses?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“Stelco makes steel for cars, and most of it goes to the United States. We need to make steel that Canada uses instead. Our plan is already creating jobs, like the 200 new steel jobs in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when we look at the type of steel that is made at Stelco, we see that it is for the auto sector right now. It is almost always sent to the U.S. The type of steel at Stelco needs to be changed, and we need to build the type of steel for Canada. That is exactly what we are doing elsewhere in the country. There are 200 new jobs at Tenaris in Sault Ste. Marie, building steel for pipelines, and it is exactly because of our plan that it is hiring.

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