Premiers urge Ottawa to end CN rail strike

Trudeau faces pressure from Quebec, West to reconvene Parliament

Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet got down to work Thursday as the government faced mounting pressure to reconvene Parliament and end a strike by CN rail workers that premiers warn is already exacting a sharp economic toll.

Trudeau held his first meeting with his ministers a day after they were sworn in with an agenda to tackle climate change and improve affordability.

But it was mounting worries of backed-up rail shipments and calls for federal action that demanded their attention. Some 3,200 employees who work as train conductors and rail yard co-ordinators, represented by Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference union, walked off the job Tuesday. Industries were quick to warn about the effect of being unable to ship goods by rail.

Alberta’s energy minister and two cabinet colleagues wrote to the federal ministers of agriculture, transport and natural resources, urging them to immediately call for a return of Parliament and to introduce emergency back-to-work legislation for CN rail workers.

Waiting until Parliament’s scheduled return Dec. 5 “would have devastating impacts on the Canadian economy,” warned the Alberta ministers, noting that CN Rail ships some 170,000 barrels of oil a day from Western Canada.

Quebec Premier François Legault said Wednesday his province would run out of propane in days if service is not restored.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe worried about provincial exports of potash and grain.

Trudeau’s concerns go beyond economics. A strike that undercuts the economies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec — provinces Trudeau has said need special attention — is a political problem, too.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the Liberal government recognizes the strike is having a “large impact economically.” But for now, he said, the best and fastest way for the strike to end would be for CN management and the union to reach a negotiated settlement.

“We believe in the collective bargaining process and that is what we are focused on, because that is the best way to get the two sides to find a solution.”

But he would not rule out forcing an end to the strike.

Privately, federal officials did not deny they were examining contingency plans to introduce back-to-work legislation, but logistics stand in the way with Parliament now slated to convene Dec. 5. Bringing MPs back sooner would require the government to move up related formalities, such as electing a new Commons’ speaker and delivering a throne speech.