No. 60
October 29, 2026
Important Discussion on Nation-Building
• Letter from Stelco Worker in Hamilton
to Industry Minister
Important Discussion on Nation-Building
Hamilton Meeting Discusses Stelco Layoffs,
Nation-Wrecking
and
Significance of
U.S. Mid-term Elections
Stelco workers and retirees, other Hamilton workers and youth met at the United Steelworkers Local 1005 hall on October 17 to discuss what is happening at Stelco and the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections.
The
meeting was chaired by Rolf Gerstenberger, past president of Local
1005. He introduced the meeting pointing out that the context for the
discussion was that everyone is
trying to make sense of what's taking place, that the burning issue of
democracy today is the peoples' striving for independence, sovereignty
and a
new world order serving their interests and workers are not going to
agree to just stand back and let harmful things happen.
Rolf pointed out that the Carney government's response to the disintegration of the old world order is to push his bankers' perspective that we need a technocratic government and to activate middlepowerhood to form a new hegemon capable of taking on the U.S. hegemon which is failing to protect all the middle powers.
The solution he is offering for Canada to cement ties with
Europe is to hide that the Europe of the oligopolies is itself
crisis-ridden, incapable of uniting, and that the alliance for the
future Carney proposes with Europe is to promote war preparations and
suppress all resistance to the nation-wrecking anti-social offensive as
can be seen in the recent suppression of the high school youth in
France.
The fact is, he said, that there was broad opposition to the
Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
which has been provisionally applied since 2017. Despite incomplete
ratification by EU member states, about 98 per cent of CETA's
provisions are already in force, and Canada reports that bilateral
merchandise trade is close to 80 per cent above pre-CETA
levels. Today it is no less concerning that Canada is seeking
closer ties with Germany, buying submarines from ThyssenKrupp, the
industrialists who
supported Hitler. Meanwhile, recently German Chancellor
Friedrich
Merz announced
the spending of $800 billion euros to build the "biggest army in Europe
again." (speaker's emphasis)
He noted that steelworkers have resisted all attempts to force them to accept what the government or the company or anyone else says about what they can and cannot do and how they should respond. They have always worked out their own stands. He emphasized that today it is important that people pay attention to what Carney is promoting as a solution and work out where they stand.
Kathleen Chandler, National Leader of the U.S.
Marxist-Leninist
Organization, spoke first. She explained what is taking place in the
U.S. concurrent with the mid-term elections characterized not only by
the corruption practiced by those in positions of privilege and power
but most importantly by evidence that the peoples across the U.S. are
speaking out in their own names.
She pointed to "No Kings Day" actions held across the country
on October 17 under the theme Our Vote, Our Voice, Our
Democracy
saying that in these actions, people expressed their rejection
of
the existing institutions which do not serve or represent them and put
forward their demands.
She gave many examples of how people are fighting, for instance, for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detention camps, for an end to the war on Iran and U.S. support for Israel's genocide in Gaza, in defence of workers' rights and against all the anti-social attacks. She emphasized that what characterizes the resistance of the workers and people is self-reliance. She told of ways in which communities are taking action when someone is targeted in an ICE raid or to defend those persecuted for supporting Palestine.
She explained that the mid-term elections are for all 435
members of
the House of Representatives and one-third of the members of the Senate
and take place in the middle of the four-year term of the president.
Responding to a question of what it would mean for the Democrats to win
and would that impede Trump, she pointed out that given that anarchy
has been raised to authority in the U.S., nothing is predictable as
concerns the outcome of the mid-terms. The only thing which is certain
is that the Congress and Courts are no longer functioning the way they
were designed when the U.S. was constituted and it is unlikely that
whatever the outcome of the mid-terms Congress will function to resolve
conflicts between the ruling factions. Within this, what is also
certain is that the peoples of the U.S. are working to strengthen the
resistance and have learned through their own experience that they must
be self-reliant, that "Only the People Can Save the People." Trump has
two more years in his presidency and he will continue to invoke the
power of the presidency to use police powers against the people and
rule with impunity to implement the demands of the oligarchs. It is the
people's resistance, not which party controls Congress, which is
decisive, she said.
A vigorous question and answer period followed her presentation.
Following this part of the meeting, Rolf introduced the discussion about the situation at Stelco and the fight that Stelco workers continue to wage not only to protect their own jobs and pensions but the entire steel-making industry in Canada within the context of the measures required to build an independent economy in Canada worthy of nation-building in the 21st century. He recalled that for more than 20 years steelworkers at Local 1005 have established their own vantage point and opposed the secret deals subsequent governments enter into with the financial oligarchs and steel barons taking over Stelco and wrecking manufacturing in Canada, integrating it into the U.S. war economy. He pointed out the newfound interest of the Carney government and its Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly who is demanding that Cleveland-Cliffs implement the terms of the secret deal the company signed when they took over ownership of Stelco in 2024. The response to Joly by Stelco's owner Lourenco Goncalves reveals the company's crass belief that steelworkers can be used as pawns in the Trump blackmail to get Canada to sign a trade deal to consolidate "Fortress North America."
All of a sudden Prime Minister Carney and the media are talking about steel production in Canada while completely hiding the facts of where companies get their steel for Carney's major nation-building projects and what steel is produced where. Steelworkers raised the call Manufacturing Yes! Nation-Wrecking No! over 20 years ago and all the politicians and people in positions of power and privilege opposed them, trying to belittle the workers' role in nation-building. The rulers are doing the same today as they manipulate secret deals behind the backs of the workers and make announcements of what billions they will spend to help affected workers. They pretend that workers across the country have participated in approving this nation-wrecking program, which they have not.
Nation-wrecking is not a problem that started with Trump, Rolf noted. All of Carney's so-called nation-building projects require steel and Carney doesn't even see that what he is saying doesn't make sense – nation building and wrecking at the same time. For instance, a solution Canadians are being asked to accept to the Stellantis shutdown of auto production is to convert the plant for war production!
Rolf stressed that the problem we are facing is what to do to oppose the nation-wrecking, a problem facing not just steelworkers but the society as a whole. When there were 14,000 workers at Stelco in the 1970s they produced tremendous value for the community, wealth to fund hospitals, education and more. Now that the manufacturing base has been cratered, in the municipal election the talk was about raising property taxes.
He said that studies in the "rust belt" in the U.S. after the destruction of the steel industry showed big increases in poverty, corruption, crime -- a disaster. And, he said, it's not as if the workers didn't say anything. The workers predicted what would happen but their views and contribution are silenced.
One
problem, Rolf said, is how those fighting for control over the steel
industry have destroyed production at Stelco "bit by
bit." Stelco used
to make everything. Then, bit by bit, the wretched people who took
it over one after another, making big scores each time, stopped making
what they considered to be "not profitable." Today Canada has to import
steel
and where does it come from? Steelworkers want to know.
By treating the workers as a cost of production, versus the producers
of the wealth the owners of Stelco were stealing, the owners' actions
were to get rid of the workers
and get their pensions off their ledgers. The owners made
obscene amounts of money then peddled their narrative that
business is business. If there's no money to be made the owners would
not
produce. Only steelworkers organized by Local 1005 raised the
consideration of what society needs and how can we not make what we
need?
Cleveland-Cliffs is continuing on the same path, sending slab needed in
Canada to the States and starving Stelco.
Rolf reminded everyone of the importance of the people having information, doing their own investigation and working out together how to deal with the situation. The Thursday meetings at which the workers discussed and worked out how to fight against the company's attacks were key to working out tactics, informing and mobilizing the community, and winning key battles to protect jobs and pensions. In the past, he said, it was not too hard to get information on the steel industry but now it is much more difficult but necessary. A worker on the plant floor took up finding information on steel production and consumption on his own to make the case to the federal government that Cleveland-Cliffs' claims should be investigated and full information on steel imports and exports provided to the union. This is what is needed, Rolf said, but the government remains silent as it wages its own battles with Donald Trump over trade with the U.S.[1]
We don't have ready-made answers, Rolf said in conclusion. There is no easy button such as the suggestion that Stelco should be nationalized and that will solve everything, as if it is a magic wand. We have a definite view about the direction of the economy Canada needs and that everyone has to be involved in discussing the way forward, not only those in positions of power and privilege engaged in secret deal-making behind the backs of steelworkers and Canadians.
At this time, the government must be held to account to produce the accurate information about Canada's needs for steel, where it is being procured and how much comes in and out of the country. There's a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge among steelworkers and workers in all sectors of the economy. We can all contribute to sorting this out.
A lot of discussion following this presentation as well. Many people asked questions and many gave their thoughts on the situation and opinions on how to proceed.Workers who have years of experience in fighting against nation-wrecking and keeping Stelco producing, came prepared. They put forward their ideas on how to fight during this new phase to advance nation-building for the benefit of the people, to keep Stelco producing. Everyone, young and old, presented the need to save the plant and the jobs in the spirit that "Hamilton Is Steel Town."
The next action will be a rally at Stelco on October 29.
Note
At the meeting copies of documents related to the need for Canadian-produced steel were made available, as well as the letter below. To read the Alto HSR Citizen Research Initiative Industrial Capacity Brief entitled Three Hundred Thousand Tonnes, click here. To read a brief report on the need for a high-carbon-density rail-steel rolling mill in Canada, click here.
Letter from Stelco Worker in Hamilton
to Industry Minister
The following letter was sent by a laid off Hamilton steel worker to Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, who has yet to respond.
Minister Joly,
I am a Stelco worker in Hamilton and one of the employees directly affected by the current shutdown of Hamilton Works finishing operations.
I am writing because I believe there is information that may be highly relevant to the Government of Canada's current review of Cleveland-Cliffs/Stelco's compliance with its Investment Canada Act commitments.
I am not asking the government to accept allegations from workers as fact. I am asking that the government obtain and examine the underlying records.
In particular, I believe Ottawa should investigate Stelco's sales and order activity during the period leading up to the Hamilton shutdown.
1. Canadian steel imports
There have been concerns among workers that steel products that can be produced at Hamilton Works have continued to enter Canada while Hamilton's cold-rolled and coated operations are being idled.
Government import data already identifies Cleveland-Cliffs Ontario G.P. as a Canadian importer of zinc-coated steel products, and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) documentation confirms that Hamilton Works has the capability to produce corrosion-resistant/galvanized steel.
I believe Ottawa should compare Stelco/Cliffs' Canadian imports against Hamilton's available production capacity and Canadian customer demand.
2. Cascadia Metals
A very recent report concerning Cascadia Metals raises another important question.
Cascadia reportedly purchased approximately 50,000 tonnes of galvanized steel from Stelco in 2026 and had invested approximately $30 million in a Manitoba expansion based in part on domestic steel supply. Cascadia has said it was left looking for alternative supply after Stelco stopped being able to supply it.
If accurate, this appears directly relevant to the question of whether Canadian demand actually disappeared, or whether Canadian customers were unable to obtain product from Hamilton.
I believe Ottawa should obtain Stelco's records concerning Cascadia, including orders, forecasts, allocations, communications and any direction given to Cascadia to source steel elsewhere.
3. Honda and other major customers
There have also been concerns among workers regarding Stelco's relationship with major customers, including Honda.
I have heard from workers that Stelco's sales organization told Honda and/or other customers to find steel elsewhere. I cannot independently verify the full circumstances, which is precisely why I believe this should be investigated rather than assumed to be true or false.
I believe Ottawa should obtain Stelco's sales records and communications concerning Honda and other major Canadian customers, including:
- customer orders and cancellations;
- orders declined or not accepted by Stelco;
- customer forecasts;
- sales communications;
- records showing customers being directed to alternative suppliers; and
- the reasons those decisions were made.
There has also been a recent change involving Stelco's senior sales leadership. I believe Ottawa should examine whether decisions made within the sales organization contributed to the loss of Canadian orders before concluding that the Hamilton shutdown was solely the result of market conditions.
4. Lake Erie slab allocation
I also believe Ottawa should examine how Lake Erie Works slab was allocated during this period.
If Canadian customers were seeking galvanized or other coated products while slab required for Hamilton finishing operations was being allocated to U.S. customers or facilities, that would be important information when evaluating Stelco's explanation for the Hamilton shutdown.
I respectfully suggest that the government obtain:
- Lake Erie slab production;
- Canadian versus U.S. slab allocations;
- Hamilton slab requirements;
- U.S. shipments;
- Canadian customer orders requiring Hamilton production; and
- the internal analysis used to determine where the slab would be
allocated.
My request
I am asking the government to look beyond the public statements that there was simply "insufficient demand" and examine the actual sales and production records.
Specifically, I believe the government should require Cleveland-Cliffs/Stelco to provide the records necessary to determine:
1. What Canadian customers actually ordered;
2. Which orders Stelco accepted, rejected, cancelled or failed to fulfill;
3. Whether customers were directed to source steel elsewhere;
4. What happened with major customers such as Honda;
5. What happened with Cascadia Metals;
6. How Lake Erie slab was allocated between Canadian and U.S. requirements;
7. What steel products Stelco/Cliffs imported into Canada while Hamilton had the capability to produce comparable products; and
8. What sales and financial analysis Cliffs relied upon when deciding to idle Hamilton's cold-rolled and coated operations.
I understand that commercial records may be confidential. I am not asking for confidential customer information to be publicly released. I am asking that the Government of Canada obtain and examine the records as part of its assessment of compliance with the binding commitments made when Cleveland-Cliffs acquired Stelco.
The timing seems particularly important because the government has now given Cleveland-Cliffs five business days to present a job-saving plan.
I am simply asking Ottawa to look deeply into the sales side of Stelco before accepting the company's explanation for why Hamilton's business was lost.
There may be nothing improper in those records. But if there is a significant difference between what the company says happened and what its actual orders, customer communications and sales records show, I believe the Government of Canada needs to know that now.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this. I kindly ask that my name remain anonymous in fear of persecution.
Sincerely,
signed
Stelco worker
Hamilton, Ontario
Pertinent Information provided by Stelco worker
Large volumes of cold-rolled and galvanized steel continue to enter Canada in product classifications that overlap with products historically produced or processed through Hamilton Works.
Canadian imports in Hamilton-relevant categories
The figures below come from the Government of Canada's Steel Import Monitoring Program. The 2025 data represents the full 2025 reporting period, while the 2026 figures are year-to-date.
The federal government maintains archived 2025 reports by HS-10 classification, country and month, as well as reports containing country-of-melt-and-pour information. (Global Affairs Canada)
|
HS-10 |
Product |
2024 Canadian imports |
2025 Canadian imports |
2026 YTD imports |
|
7209160090 |
Cold rolled >1–<3 mm |
65,222 t |
72,243 t |
50,602 t |
|
7209170090 |
Cold rolled 0.5–1 mm |
20,135 t |
25,917 t |
18,752 t |
|
7210490040 |
Galvanized <0.25 mm |
44,543 t |
54,792 t |
32,448 t |
|
7210490050 |
Galvanized 0.25–<0.5 mm |
64,274 t |
115,966 t |
72,908 t |
|
7210490060 |
Galvanized 0.5–1 mm |
207,474 t |
278,522 t |
155,860 t |
|
7210490070 |
Galvanized >1 mm |
255,259 t |
299,966 t |
219,381 t |
Observations
The 2025 numbers are particularly significant
The 2025 figures show that imports increased substantially in several of these categories compared with 2024.
For example:
- Cold rolled >1–<3 mm increased from
approximately 65,222 tonnes in 2024 to 72,243 tonnes in 2025.
- Cold rolled 0.5–1 mm increased from approximately 20,135
tonnes to 25,917 tonnes.
- Galvanized 0.25–<0.5 mm increased from approximately
64,274 tonnes to 115,966 tonnes.
- Galvanized 0.5–1 mm increased from approximately 207,474
tonnes to 278,522 tonnes.
- Galvanized >1 mm increased from approximately 255,259 tonnes
to 299,966 tonnes.
In other words, the import data does not show a declining Canadian market for these categories during 2025. Several categories actually show substantial increases.
It makes the question of where the imported material is going particularly important when considered alongside the current reduction in Hamilton operations.
The Cliffs Connection
The Canadian Importers Database identifies Cleveland-Cliffs Ontario G.P. and/or Cliffs Steel Inc. as major importers in several of these product classifications.
For example, the federal database identifies Cleveland-Cliffs Ontario G.P. and Cliffs Steel Inc. among the major Canadian importers for 7209170090, cold-rolled flat-rolled steel in the 0.5–1 mm range. (ISED Canada)
Cleveland-Cliffs Ontario G.P. is also identified among the major Canadian importers in the 720916 classification covering cold-rolled material greater than 1 mm and less than 3 mm. (ISED Canada)
The federal database also identifies Cleveland-Cliffs Ontario G.P. among major Canadian importers in galvanized/ zinc-coated steel classifications. (ISED Canada)
The important question both Cliffs and the government of Canada should answer is:
"What grades, gauges, widths, coating specifications and volumes of cold-rolled and galvanized steel did Cleveland-Cliffs import into Canada during 2025 and 2026, where did those products go, and why could those requirements not be supplied by Hamilton Works?"
The public information establishes that:
- Large quantities of cold-rolled and galvanized steel entered Canada during 2025.
- Several relevant categories experienced significant increases from 2024 to 2025.
- Cleveland-Cliffs entities are identified as major importers in several relevant classifications.
- The federal government has archived 2025 HS-10 import data.
- The federal government also maintains country-of-melt-and-pour information for covered steel imports.
- The public importer information does not establish the final customer or whether a particular import displaced a Hamilton order.
Yet to be established is whether a specific Cliffs import displaced a specific Hamilton order.
The 2025 transaction-level information could potentially answer questions that the publicly available import statistics cannot.
(To access articles individually click on the black headline.)
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca