Lakeside Steel (LS.V) was granted intervenor status in the Canadian government's lawsuit against U.S. Steel on Monday, a position the small Canadian company hopes will give it a chance to acquire U.S. Steel's operations in southern Ontario.

The Canadian government is taking U.S. Steel to court to force it to comply with commitments for production and employment the company made when it acquired Canada's Stelco in 2007. Earlier this year, U.S. Steel suspended operations at Stelco.

Lakeside hopes the lawsuit will lead to U.S. Steel selling off the former Stelco assets. (Reporting by Cameron French; editing by Peter Galloway)

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