OTTAWA — Both the provincial and federal governments were aware Algoma Steel planned to conduct layoffs before giving the Sault Ste. Marie company $500 million of taxpayer’s money, the company’s CEO said.

Speaking with this week, Algoma CEO Michael Garcia said it’s been known for months that layoffs were coming at its Sault Ste. Marie plant, which is in the midst of retooling to replace existing blast furnaces with new electric arc furnaces. As a result, the company will only require about half of its existing workforce to continue operations.

Government were aware of plans: CEO

When asked if the federal and provincial governments knew these layoffs were coming, Garcia said there’s little reason why they wouldn’t.

“The government certainly knows our business strategy, knows the pivot

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