Machinery and workers are seen at Algoma Steel Inc., in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Friday, April 25, 2025. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press

SAULT STE. MARIE — Algoma Steel is laying off more than a third of its workforce as it accelerates a transition to new equipment in response to U.S. tariffs.

The company started issuing some 1,050 layoff notices Monday morning, said Bill Slater, president of United Steelworkers Local 2724, including about 150 to his members.

“There’s going to be a lot of transition for people and it won’t be a happy transition,” he said.

He said the size of the layoffs will also be hard for the whole city of Sault Ste. Marie, whose population is about 72,000.

“It’s a lot of people for a community our size,” said Slater.

Mike Da Prat, president of US

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