Pulse Canada and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) are calling for an urgent resolution to ongoing labor disruptions at key export terminals in British Columbia and Montreal. These stoppages have brought containerized pulse exports to a standstill and are severely impacting Canada’s pulse farmers and the businesses that deliver their products around the world.
In both Vancouver and Montreal, negotiations have broken down. It is clear the collective bargaining process has failed and government intervention is needed immediately. It is time for Minister MacKinnon to issue an order under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board to end the work stoppages at the Ports of Montreal and Vancouver.
“Our sector works hard to meet the world’s demand for nutritious, sustainable and staple foods” said Murad Al-Katib, President of the CPSC. “I cannot overstate how devastating these stoppages are to our industry. We are major suppliers to the global food industry and we’re letting our customers down. Every day that we can’t deliver adds cost which not only impacts our bottom line but makes food less affordable for consumers in every corner of the world. These strikes and lockouts must end now.”
“The lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, and faba beans we grow in Canada are the best in the world, but if we can’t deliver them consistently and reliably, we simply aren’t the premier supplier. These disruptions erode profitability from our farms, they hurt our industry’s ability to fulfill today’s contracts, and they damage Canada’s reputation in the long term said Terry Youzwa, Chair of Pulse Canada. “We need the Minister to act now.”
Each year, Canada’s pulse and special crops industry relies on the containerized freight system to move 1.4 million tonnes of product to global markets. The fall season is particularly vital and highly competitive, with over 300,000 tonnes historically shipped in October and November alone.
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