Today, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development visited Hamilton to announce that over $390,000 in provincial funds will be allocated to aid a new program aimed at helping steelworkers and industries impacted by tariffs.
This initiative is called the ‘Hamilton Tariff Response Team,’ which was created in response to the recent layoffs happening at Stelco.
Officials mention that this city initiative totals $588,000 to assist businesses affected by tariffs.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath stated that the team is already being put together and is expected to be fully operational within this quarter.
She noted that the program aims to help businesses discover new markets, bolster local supply chains, and connect workers with available funding to support their families.
Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, explained that the team will provide assistance through two main areas.
“First stream will focus on delivering operational and administrative support, allowing locally affected businesses to diversify into new markets, reconfigure their supply chains and develop strategies for job retention and growth. The second stream will focus on expanding the city’s data resources, providing businesses with updated statistics and analytics needed to adapt and make informed decisions,” said Fedeli.
“There are a number of partners that are a part of this initiative, and ‘why’? Because we all need to work together. We all need to come together, work together and be a united front,” said Mayor Horwath.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles joined National Steel Car workers at a picket line earlier this evening as well as participated in a roundtable discussing the future of the steel industry with steelworkers in Hamilton.
Stiles remarked that the funding from the provincial government is “a drop in the bucket.”
Horwath also commented on Cleveland-Cliffs announcing its Canadian operation had its strongest quarter yesterday, calling it “a slap in the face” to Hamilton workers.
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