Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Stelco Inc. owner Cleveland-Cliffs could face a forced divestment of assets or financial penalties if it proceeds with hundreds of layoffs in Canada, says the federal Industry Minister.
Stelco, which is owned by U.S. steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs, said on Sept. 28 that it was laying off up to 500 workers in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ont., saying it couldn’t compete in the galvanized steel market as a result of the trade war with the United States.
Mélanie Joly has said these layoffs are a breach of the commitments the steelmaker made when it acquired Stelco. Earlier this month, she warned she would invoke the “full force of the law” if the company didn’t comply with the agreement.
When the federal government approved Cliffs’s $3.4-billion acquisition of Stelco in 2024, it imposed legally binding conditions, including maintaining at least the same number of unionized employees in Canada for five years, as well as the vast majority of non-unionized workers.
Steven Chase and Niall McGee report that today the Industry Minister told reporters she’s not backing down and that she expects Stelco to uphold its commitments.
Joly spoke after a fireside chat at The Globe and Mail’s defence summit in Ottawa.
“Right now, a business decision or even a change in market conditions cannot be used to not follow the commitment,” Joly said, adding that Ottawa is reviewing the letter.
Defence leaders, policy makers and industry experts have gathered in Ottawa today for The Globe’s Welcome to National Defence: Mapping Canada’s growth strategy event.
Minister of Industry Melanie Joly speaks during "National Defence: Mapping Canada’s growth strategy," an event held by the Globe and Mail in Ottawa, on Wednesday.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
U.S. officials `closely watching’ for Canadian interference in midterm elections, Hoekstra says: During a recent interview on the The Really Big Show podcast, Pete Hoekstra said political ads run by the province of Ontario last year could be interpreted as political interference.
What about Alberta’s nine other referendum questions: Premier Danielle Smith is asking voters to consider policies that would upend immigration and require reopening the Constitution.
B.C. party leaders to face off in only debate of snap provincial election: NDP Leader David Eby, interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson and Green Leader Emily Lowan are scheduled to debate from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT.
On our radar
Commons break: The House of Commons is on a break this week.
Prime Minister’s Day: In Ottawa, Mark Carney chaired a virtual meeting of the federal cabinet.
Party Leaders: In Toronto, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended the KAIROS Canada 25th anniversary celebration. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road:
In New Delhi, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, on an official visit, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In Fredericton, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson announced an investment of up to $50-million to establish the New Brunswick Strategic Innovation Centre in Digital Forestry.
In Winnipeg, Health Minister Marjorie Michel and provincial Health Minister, Uzoma Asagwara, announced up to $6-million in federal funding to bring more family doctors into the health care system.
Political lives, Helen Branswell: The late Canadian medical journalist lauded for her coverage of infectious diseases was remembered by the director general of the World Health Organization for her “unwavering commitment to evidence, science and truth.”
Irene Mathyssen: The longtime MP, who served the London, Ont., region both provincially and federally under the NDP banner, has died at the age of 75.
Quote of the Day
“I’ve got to pick my words here. He’ll change another lake on me if I say anything else.” - Ontario Premier Doug Ford references Donald Trump renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America. Ford was participating in a fireside chat today with former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Andrew Furey at an event held in Toronto by the Empire Club of Canada.
Question period
How many Parti Québécois premiers has Quebec had?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
First past the post sets Canada up for secession threats
The separatists have never once, in 16 provincial elections and 11 federal elections, won a majority of the vote in Quebec. Provincially, they have averaged just less than a third of the vote. Yet they have governed the province six times since 1976, twice using their “majorities” to put the province, and the country, through the agonies of a referendum.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
The cost of a mass exodus from Alberta if it goes independent
Albertans should weigh all these significant migration consequences carefully before voting on Question 10 next week. A majority vote to start the secession process, even without a widespread desire to see it go all the way, will have significant negative consequences for the Alberta economy.
— Christopher Worswick is a professor of economics at Carleton University and a research fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute.
Canada to the Palestinian Authority; Stop, before we say stop again
If the Palestinian Authority is allowed to ignore its commitments, and Canada simply expresses its regret – sorry, deep regret – then why should any future commitment, by the PA or anyone else, ever be honoured?
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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The answer to today’s question: Six between René Lévesque in 1976 and Pauline Marois, who served from 2012 to 2014. Lévesque, Pierre Marc Johnson, Jacques Parizeau, Lucien Bouchard, Bernard Landry and Marois. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the current premier elect of the province, is also a member of the PQ.