Statements from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on the St. Lawrence Seaway strike

October 29, 2023

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomes tonight’s announcement that the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation has reached a tentative agreement with UNIFOR to end the strike that began on October 22. We hope it will be ratified by employees in the coming days.

While it is positive that the two parties were able to reach a negotiated agreement, this latest strike is further proof that the federal government needs more tools to ensure labour stability for our critical infrastructure and supply chains. We look forward to working with Members of Parliament to ensure our supply chains are reliable and protected.

Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

October 28, 2023

With the shutdown of the St. Lawrence Seaway reaching its sixth day, the economic losses are piling up and the damage to our supply chains continues to prevent goods from flowing through a vital trade artery. By the end of the week, the impact on economic activity will have reached a staggering figure of nearly $900 million.

This strike impacts businesses on both sides of the border and is harmful to our reputation as a reliable trading partner. We need leadership from the federal government to use every tool at their disposal to ensure a quick resolution.

Pascal Chan, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure & Construction, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

October 22, 2023

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is urging the Government of Canada to immediately intervene to prevent further disruption to Canada’s supply chains and limit the impact on Canadians, who are bearing the cost of inflationary pressures. Particularly at this critical time, Canadians need stability in our supply chains. We urge the Government of Canada to use all the tools in its toolbox to solve this strike immediately.

The St. Lawrence Seaway supports more than 66,000 Canadian jobs and is responsible for $34 million in economic activity per day. Any work stoppage will damage the Canadian economy, fanning inflation and increasing costs for Canadians.

While we respect the right to collective bargaining and sincerely believe the best deals are reached at the table, Canada’s economy and our supply chains cannot afford another strike. The federal government must act immediately to end this latest disruption while continuing to work closely with all parties on a long-term agreement.

Robin Guy, Vice President & Deputy Leader, Government Relations, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

October 20, 2023

We are deeply concerned by the 72-hour strike notice by UNIFOR to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

We respect the right to collective bargaining and believe sincerely that the best deals are reached at the table. The government needs to work closely with all parties to reach an agreement. These repeated work stoppages are damaging the Canadian economy, fanning inflation and increasing costs for Canadians. Yesterday, the Minister of Labour stressed that our supply chains need stability. We need government to ensure that our St. Lawrence Gateway remains open.

Pascal Chan, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure & Construction, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.

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Contact
Karl Oczkowski
Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
koczkowski@chamber.ca