Funding & Grants
Per an Oct. 21 Government of Ontario announcement, the Canada-Ontario package includes a new $5.22-billion Joint Steel Action Fund and an additional $2.5 billion for automotive capital projects.
If you sit in the steel or auto supply chain, find out how the fund will be administered and whether SMEs can access it.
Funding & Grants
Ontario's proposed $8B tax cut would let eligible businesses immediately write off 100 per cent of a wide range of capital investments, including software, patents, machinery and equipment.
If passed as proposed, machinery and software spend could be expensed immediately; ask your accountant before timing capex.
Plants, Investment & M&A
ATCO marked the grand opening of its expanded modular manufacturing facility in Ontario, supported by its five Ontario sales branches. It reportedly employs over 140 people, roughly three-quarters of ATCO's 190-person Ontario workforce.
Modular manufacturing capacity is growing in-province; worth a look if you need quick plant or office space.
Workforce & Skills
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Ottawa wants a plan to bring back laid-off workers before she meets the head of Cleveland-Cliffs. The company says Stelco is in full compliance with each of its 34 undertakings, including employment levels.
Employment undertakings are a live lever in Ottawa's steel dealings; Stelco suppliers should watch for volume shifts.
Automation & Technology Adoption
A3 data show North American robot orders rose almost 25 per cent in Q3, with automotive component orders nearly doubling and semiconductors and electronics, life sciences and other sectors also posting strong gains.
Robot demand is broadening beyond auto; book integrator time early for any project you plan.
Supply Chain & Reshoring
Kap Minerals and Cymat Technologies plan a proposed joint venture to establish a Canadian supply chain for scandium-aluminum production, serving aerospace, defence and industrial markets.
Domestic advanced-materials supply is forming; aerospace and defence suppliers should track whether it shortens their sourcing.
Policy, Trade & Economy
On Oct. 23 Trump announced he will lift some of the 50 per cent tariffs on Canada at the end of the month, while adding tariffs to dozens of new products, including Canadian garbage and sewage.
Relief is partial and the product list is shifting; keep tariff-change clauses in quotes and cross-border contracts.
ForgeShift Insights goes out weekly across three editions.
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