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Photo: Canadian Press
rail strike

Warkentin calls on Trudeau to resolve CP rail strike

Mar 21, 2022 | 1:07 PM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin is adding his voice to those asking the federal government to put an end to the work stoppage at CP Rail.

In a release, Warkentin says the strike could have harmful and far-reaching effects for residents in the Peace Country, especially in the areas of oil and gas, forestry, mining, and agriculture.

“The strike at CP could have harmful and far-reaching effects for residents of the Peace Country,” Warkentin said.

“We need a resolution to this dispute to ensure that families that rely on the oil and gas industry, mining, forestry, and agriculture sectors aren’t harmed by the transportation bottleneck caused by a halt to rail traffic.”

Rail transportation in Canada is a federally regulated industry, meaning that the federal government in Ottawa possesses the tools to ensure the smooth flow of goods across Canada.

He adds there needs to be an immediate resolution to this dispute to ensure that families that rely on those sectors aren’t harmed by the transportation bottleneck caused by a halt to rail traffic.

“The forestry, agriculture, and energy sectors have already been hard hit by bad government policy, including Trudeau’s devastating carbon tax. This rail strike has the potential to make a tough situation far worse,” said Warkentin.

“The government has a responsibility to act. It is time for Justin Trudeau to protect the jobs of hardworking Canadians.”

Warkentin went on to say that the rail strike has the potential to make a tough situation even worse for industries that are already being hit hard by the government’s carbon tax.