Concerned with possible economic fallout and food supply shortages, a local Member of Parliament is calling on the Canadian government to end the ongoing Canadian Pacific Railway strike.
Chatham-Kent—Leamington MP Dave Epp said the strike, which began Sunday night, threatens food security for Canadians and adds to the rising cost of food. He added that combined with volatile commodity markets, increased utility and fuel costs, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the shutdown of CP rail operations will deliver a crippling blow to Canadians.
“This particular labour dispute has been seen by many, it’s been coming for some time. We’re calling for action. This has got to be stopped,” said Epp. “The government needs to make a decision here and needs to act.”
The CP Rail work stoppage will have a particularly negative impact on farmers, Epp said, as they attempt to position enough fertilizer to support the spring planting season.
“It’s not like we can wait two months or three months,” he said. “We’re talking about an entire annual [planting] cycle that’s at risk here.”
Epp said he’s calling on the Liberal government to impose binding arbitration to end the strike.
“My personal preference would be an arbitration of some sort that respects the positions of both sides [of the labour dispute] but that brings about resolution, without a lockout or a strike,” he said.
However, failing that, Epp said back-to-work legislation should be passed to force CP Rail employees back to work.
“I call on this government to enact those mechanisms or another mechanism that does not interrupt our food supply or the ability to produce food that both Canadians and the world are really going to need,” said Epp.
