Ottawa, March 17 2021 – Today, Canada’s leading national industry associations issued the following statement regarding the threat of strike action by longshoremen at the Port of Montreal:
“Our national associations represent hundreds of thousands of businesses that supply essential goods and materials to every sector of the economy. As Canada struggles towards economic recovery, the impact of strike action at the Port of Montreal on the timely delivery of these essential goods cannot be overstated. The labour dispute between the longshoremen and the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) is taking a significant toll on fragile supply chains and requires the immediate attention of the federal government. The Chamber of Commerce and our association partners are urging the federal government to use all available resources to facilitate reconciliation between these two parties.
It has been a full year since Canada has grappled with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Labour action at the Port of Montreal had previously stunted Canadian supply chains back in August 2020 when we first raised the issue. This is a precarious time for Canada as we slowly move towards economic recovery, and further labour disruptions present a direct threat to the health of Canadian businesses and their employees. The livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers are at risk as a result of labour action, and supply chains simply cannot sustain further shutdowns.
It is with great urgency that we call on the federal Minister of Labour to take steps towards resolution between the longshoremen and the MEA. It is imperative that immediate measures are taken to ensure operations at the port are allowed to continue undisrupted. This is absolutely critical to keep Canadians employed and facilitate economic recovery across the country.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Milena Stanoeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.
List of Industry Associations
Dan Kelly
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Hon. Perrin Beatty, P.C., O.C.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Luke Chapman
Interim President
Beer Canada
Shannon Coombs
President
Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association
Ralph Suppa
President and General Manager
Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
Michael Graydon
Chief Executive Officer
Food, Health, and Consumer Products Canada
Bruce Rodgers
Executive Director
Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association
Dennis Darby
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Ron Lemaire
President
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Brian Kingston
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association
Carol McGlogan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Electro-Federation Canada
Derek Nighbor
President and Chief Executive Officer
Forest Products Association of Canada
John Corey
President
Freight Management Association
Sandy MacLeod
President & CEO
Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
Lisa Kowalchuk
Executive Director
Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce
Pierre Gratton
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mining Association of Canada
David Wojcik
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mississauga Board of Trade
Cathy Campbell
President
Responsible Distribution Canada
Diane J. Brisebois
President and Chief Executive Officer
Retail Council of Canada
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