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By Tanner Smith with files from Canadian Press

Rail Strike

Federal Labour Minister expected to intervene in the rail stoppage

Aug 22, 2024 | 2:03 PM

UPDATE:

The federal government is planning to intervene in the labour dispute that brought the country’s two largest railways to a halt overnight, a senior Liberal source says.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon will use the powers under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.

More updates to come.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on the federal government to intervene in the rail stoppage with binding arbitration or by reconvening Parliament to pass back-to-work legislation.

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Smith, in a statement, says while her government respects collective bargaining, having both freight carriers shut down at the same time is an intolerable disruption to business and threatens Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier.

“Each day this disruption continues will have far-reaching and extremely costly impacts on our economy, hurting workers, businesses, farmers and families across the country,” said Smith.

In a a statement earlier today, (Thursday, August 22) Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh shared his party’s view, which threatens the Liberal-NDP supply-and-confidence agreement.

This agreement is the mechanism through which the N-D-P supports the Liberals to keep them in power.

The federal N-D-P leader says his party will oppose any Liberal government back-to-work legislation or any interference in the bargaining process involving a lockout at Canada’s two biggest railways.

More updates are expected.