Cliffs Natural Resources & Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines

Cliffs Natural Resources wanted to demonstrate that its $5B acquisition of Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines in Quebec was a net benefit to Canada in order to receive approval under the Investment Canada Act. The environment, however, was challenging: a high profile acquisition was withdrawn only months before and the country was on the verge of a federal election.

We put an integrated communications and government relations strategy into place that included briefings at the local, provincial and federal levels. H+K monitored traditional and social media and quick responses were developed to address shifts in public sentiment. Central to the strategy were facilitating input to the Minister of Industry and ensuring that provincial concerns were identified and addressed early in the process. Approval was actually granted during the federal election - - with the support of the governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.