The key decision maker behind the mass layoffs at a century-old steel mill in Hamilton says “no amount of money” from the federal government would have convinced Stelco to continue manufacturing product with low demand in Canada.
asserted
amount → say → Canada
On Monday, Stelco, which is owned by U.S.-based steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs, announced it would lay off roughly 350 employees and offer them positions at a nearby steel mill instead, as the company pauses production of galvanized steel.
asserted
company → own → steel
The move was met with a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said the company “betrayed” Canadian workers and insisted “there’s money on the table” to keep employees on the job.
asserted
company → meet → job
In an exclusive interview with Global News, Lourenco Goncalves, the chairman and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, said the company’s decision was purely market-driven and that financial incentives could not fix the fundamental issues.
uncertain
incentives → say → issues
“I’m not shutting down, I’m not dismantling,” Goncalves said during a 10-minute phone call.
asserted
Goncalves → shut → call
“There’s no market in Canada for the amount of galvanized steel we produce in Canada.
asserted
we → ’ → Canada
We need to export… to the United States.”
asserted
We → need → States
“Until we reestablish that there’s nothing we can do, nothing.”
asserted
we → reestablish → ?
Sources with knowledge of the high-level discussions between Goncalves and Ottawa said the federal government “tried everything” to convince Stelco to delay the layoffs, including short-term bridge financing, longer-term loans, retrofitting and access to new markets in Canada.
asserted
government → say → Canada
One source described it as the “most gratuitous terms to try and keep people employed longer,” but Goncalves “refused” the offers and expected something bigger.
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Goncalves → describe → something
“He quite literally said “nope”, we don’t want your help unless it’s a blank cheque to the tune of billions with no conditions,” the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks.
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source → say → talks
Goncalves vehemently pushed back against the assertion.
asserted
Goncalves → push → assertion
“That’s not true.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
That’s a completely untruthful statement.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
I did not ask for a blank cheque to the tune of billions with no conditions, that’s absolutely wrong,” Goncalves told Global News.
asserted
Goncalves → ask → News
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Goncalves said while the majority of his discussions were with a senior cabinet minister in the federal government, they did not rise to the level of the Prime Minister’s Office, despite his desire to escalate the conversation.
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they → get → conversation
“I have never met Prime Minister Mark Carney.
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I → meet → Carney
I tried to get to Prime Minister Mark Carney, but he never really talked to me.”
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he → try → me
Despite his prior support of the Trump administration’s tariffs – and the federal government’s quiet belief that his relationship and donation record was a motivating factor – Goncalves insists the cut in production has little to do with his ties to the White House.
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cut → motivate → House
“I have been in this business for 45 years, so I have worked with so many different persons, Republicans and Democrats.
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I → work → persons
Trump, then Biden, then Trump,” Goncalves said.
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Goncalves → say → ?
“That’s a fallacy, that’s absurd.”
asserted
that → ’ → ?
Instead, Goncalves insists he shares the vision of a more integrated economy pushed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the federal government.
asserted
he → insist → Ford
“I have been trying for too long to implement what’s called Fortress North America to create the preconditions to re-establish a bridge between United States and Canada.
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what → try → States
But I have been unable to convince the Canadian government on what to do,” Goncalves said.
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Goncalves → convince → what
While Goncalves declined to wade into specific conversations he had with the federal government, his own assessment of the current situation appears to lay heavy blame on Canada, while downplaying the impact of Trump’s tariff war.
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assessment → decline → war
“I need an ability to sell more galvanized steel.
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I → need → steel
I can’t increase the domestic market in Canada.
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I → increase → Canada
I cannot afford to block imports.
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I → afford → imports
But even if they shut down imports of galvanized completely – 100 per cent – we still have more production of galvanized steel in Canada than the domestic markets of Canada.”
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we → shut → Canada
We need to be able to export.”
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We → need → ?
Future of Stelco
Goncalves stressed that while Stelco is pausing some of the production at its facility in Hamilton, the decision is “not permanent” because the company is waiting for the market to “resolve itself.”
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market → stress → itself
“Stelco will continue to produce the same amount of steel.
asserted
Stelco → continue → steel
I will concentrate on hot-rolled steel, because there’s no market for galvanized steel,” Goncalves told Global News.
asserted
Goncalves → concentrate → News
Goncalves said without the ability to export to the United States at the current tariff rates, his “temporary solution” is to concentrate on products that still make the company money and “wait until the situation normalizes.”
asserted
situation → say → money
While that could take two years – or longer – Goncalves said the company is committing to boost employment, once the trade war settles, allowing the company to export Canadian-made steel.
uncertain
company → take → steel
“Let’s assume that we were able to produce galvanized steel again.
asserted
we → let → steel
What am I going to do?
asserted
I → go → What
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