The Federal Government is taking action to address simultaneous supply chain breakdowns on Canada's east and west coasts.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced he will use his powers under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code and direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order Parties at ports in Quebec and across Canada's West Coast to resume operations and duties, and to impose binding arbitration on the Parties in order to reach a settlement.

Through binding arbitration, a legal process will proceed where representatives for employers and workers submit their arguments to an Arbitrator an impartial person, similar to a judge who will consider all sides of the dispute and deliver a legally binding decision.

Work stoppages at two of the most important ports in Canada had lasted several days, leaving consumers and businesses facing great uncertainty going into the holiday season. The situation was sufficiently dire that a broad array of businesses groups had called for decisive action to resolve the deadlock in the west and the east.

 

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