Canadian Chamber of Commerce Expresses Concern Over Potential Rail Strike

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is concerned with today’s announcement from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference that workers at CN and CPKC have voted to authorize strikes. The importance of our Class 1 railways to the Canadian economy and our ability to move goods, both domestically and internationally, cannot be understated.

After the labour disruptions at our ports in British Columbia and the St-Lawrence Seaway, a strike at both of our Class 1 railways would be a terrible blow to Canada’s diminishing reputation as a reliable place to do business. We simply don’t have the capacity to replace the movement of goods by rail.

With trade accounting for more than two thirds of Canada’s GDP, our ability to get goods to and from market determines whether we will be competitive in the global economy, but our supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link. This is not the time to put further strain on an already fragile system; we need to ensure our supply chains are reliable and resilient.

We respect the right to collective bargaining and believe sincerely that the best deals are reached at the table. These repeated work stoppages are damaging the economy, jeopardizing predictability for businesses, and escalating uncertainty for Canadian families who are contending with an increased cost of living.

The Honourable Perrin Beatty, PC, OC, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Chamber of Commerce