Cleveland-Cliffs Cuts 500 Jobs at Ontario Stelco Sites

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. will lay off up to 500 workers at Stelco facilities in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, the company reported in announcements detailed by The Globe and Mail. The moves were disclosed in relation to strains tied to trade measures between Canada and the United States, according to that report.

Lede

The layoffs affect operations at Stelco’s Hamilton plant and the Lake Erie Works operation in Nanticoke and were reported for the Materials sector during September 29–30, 2026. The Globe and Mail reports the company described the reductions as necessary amid trade frictions and tariffs involving the U.S.

Reported layoffs

• Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. — up to 500 employees at Stelco’s Hamilton and Lake Erie Works (Nanticoke), Ontario, per The Globe and Mail. The company said some affected workers will be offered roles at Lake Erie Works, where 46 openings are available, a figure The Globe and Mail reported is substantially smaller than the total cuts.

• The Globe and Mail reported the layoffs have prompted discussion of potential legal action by the Canadian federal government under employment commitments tied to Cleveland-Cliffs’ 2024 acquisition of Stelco. Ottawa officials were reported to have said they could use available levers to defend Canadian industry and noted that offers of financial support to sustain employment were reportedly declined by the company.

• Legal experts quoted in The Globe and Mail noted that enforcement of acquisition undertakings would depend on the specific terms and that renegotiation or mediation are possible next steps.

Closing

The Globe and Mail provided the public reporting on these Materials layoffs, WARN notices were not cited in the available record. The reported actions at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Stelco operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke account for the 500 worker reductions recorded for September 29–30, 2026.