Ottawa puts pressure on Cleveland-Cliffs CEO demanding recall of laid-off workers

Prime Minister Mark Carney says it would be a mistake for Cleveland-Cliffs to fail to honour the commitments it made when it bought Stelco, but declined to comment on the possibility of forcing the U.S. steelmaker to sell Stelco, saying a legal process is underway.

Carney made comments at a conference in Montreal, as Industry Minister Melanie Joly increased pressure on Stelco to recall laid-off workers.

In a new letter to the steelmaker, Joly rejected its latest compliance report as “far from satisfactory.”

Joly also demanded the immediate recall of laid-off workers before she will sit down with Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves.

WATCH MORE: Ottawa consults lawyers over Cleveland-Cliffs CEO’s comments on Stelco purchase

In the meantime, dozens gathered for a rally outside of the Hamilton plant Thursday, including Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis.

He suggests the best course of action is nationalizing Stelco.

CHCH News spoke with some of those laid off workers, who said they just want their jobs back.

“We don’t care about the politics, we don’t care about the money and money from the states, we just want to work — that’s all it is, it’s not that difficult,” said Adam Coles, who was laid off. “We’re making money, we’re just getting a bonus, and apparently we’re not making money. How are we getting bonuses if we’re not making money?”

WATCH MORE: Joly calls on Cleveland-Cliffs for concrete plan to restore Stelco jobs

“I think right now the situation is that the federal government, they’re in a bind,” said Lewis. “They know they have to talk tough and write stern letters and issue ultimatums and set deadlines, but really what are they going to do? They’re going to sue the company, they’re going to take them to court. The company can do whatever the hell it wants, because it’s acting like Trump himself with total impunity and disregard for the law, which is why we are saying it is time to nationalize Stelco.”

At Queens Park, CHCH News asked the Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy about the provincial government putting billions of dollars towards the steel industry recently.

Goncalves said Wednesday that he hopes to recall all 175 workers before Dec. 25, if a plan to boost sales of Canadian-made steel to domestic customers succeeds.

However, the union says they want workers brought back now.

WATCH MORE: Stelco employee among hundreds facing uncertainty after layoffs