Dear Minister MacKinnon,

The labour disruptions at British Columbia container terminals and Montreal ports are catastrophic for Canadian agriculture.

As you well know, the lockout at west coast terminals is compounding the significant uncertainty already facing farmers and shippers because of the strikes at the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals at the Port of Montreal. The fall shipping season is a peak shipping season for Canadian agriculture. These work stoppages are impacting farmers and the small and medium sized exporters in Canada that move their product to customers who do have competitive options from other regions.

There’s a growing consensus that Canada needs long-term solutions that ensure that the broader Canadian economy isn’t constantly held hostage by labour negotiations. The labour dispute between the BCMEA and the ILWU is particularly contentious with the ILWU already found to be bargaining in bad faith by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). It is clear that without direct Government of Canada intervention, these 2 parties will find it very difficult achieve a negotiated outcome.

All necessary steps to end the threat of a lockout and mitigate the harm to Canadian agriculture and the wider Canadian economy must be taken, including the personal intervention by the Minister at the negotiations and the use of s.107 of the Canada Labour Code.

cc:  Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
       Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P.
       Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, P.C., M.P.