Ag groups want it resolved immediately
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Train yards across Canada fell silent the morning of Aug. 22 as CN and CPKC locked out more than 9,000 employees represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference after the two sides couldn’t reach new negotiated agreements.
The Canadian ag industry is looking to the federal government to step in and end the stoppage to reduce the effects on agriculture.
The Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Oilseed Processors Association and Canadian Canola Growers Association, are calling on Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to “invoke section 107 of the Canada Labour Code and bring swift resolution to this work stoppage through binding arbitration while suspending the ability for lockouts or strikes pending an agreement,” the organizations said in an Aug. 22 statement.
Under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, the minister can “do what he or she deems expedient to maintain or secure industrial peace…”
On X, Sask Wheat is urging the federal government to “utilize all available tools” to rectify this issue.
Canadian ag loses millions of dollars each day the labour disruptions continue.
The canola industry estimates lost exports of canola seed will cost $11 million per day; stopping canola processing will cost $20.5 million per day.
Sask Wheat’s figures estimate the damage to Saskatchewan farmers could reach about $55 million per week, the organization said in an Aug. 22 release.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) also wants to see the issue resolved.
But the organization doesn’t support government intervention.
“The railway duopoly is pressuring workers to accept unsafe working conditions which jeopardize worker safety and the proper operation of the Canadian railway system. Back to work legislation will not address long term issues that could affect the ability of farmers to deliver their grain,” Al Birchard, a Verwood, Sask. farmer and NFU director, said in a statement.
The rail disruptions are also affecting commuter routes.
In Ontario, for example, Go Transit stopped service between the Hamilton GO Centre along its Milton line.
In Quebec, Exo Transit shut down service on its Candiac, Saint-Jerome and Vaudreuil/Hudson lines.
And in B.C., TransLink’s West Coast Express isn’t running.
Some people believe that because commuters in the GTA are affected, the labour issue will receive proper attention.
“While this is a major #cdnag issue that has been looming for weeks - with embargoed freight from the US since last Friday - but now that transit users in the GTA are impacted - we are going to start to care,” Kelly Elliott, the former deputy mayor of Thames Centre, Ont., said on X Thursday morning.
At this point there’s no indication the government will intervene.
But fellow legislators want MPs back in Ottawa to sort this issue out.
Senator Mary Robinson, a former president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, along with Senator Rob Black, sent a letter to MPs requesting their return to the House of Commons to regain stability on the tracks.
“This ongoing instability is untenable for our economy, the Canadian Public, and our farmers,” the letter says. “It is imperative that we explore long-term solutions to reduce the risk of future labour disruptions and ensure the stability of our supply chains.”
The post received supportive messages from Egg Farmers of Canada, Rick Bergmann, a past chair of the Canadian Pork Council, and former federal minister of agriculture Gerry Ritz.