Letter to Ministers MacKinnon and Anand Regarding the Shutdown of British Columbia Ports

November 8, 2024

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Seniors
Member of Parliament for Gatineau, Quebec
Place du Portage Phase II
165 de l’Hôtel-de-Ville Street
Gatineau, Québec J8X 3X2
Via electronic mail

The Honourable Anita Anand, P.C., M.P.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport
Member of Parliament for Oakville, Ontario
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Via electronic mail

Dear Ministers:

We are writing to express our urgent concern with the shutdown of British Columbia ports for a second consecutive year. This is yet another blow to Canadian workers and businesses who are counting on reliable supply chains to enable the trade that drives our economy.

Our West Coast ports handle $800 million worth of cargo every single day, accounting for approximately 25 percent of the goods flowing through the country. These ports support more than 45,000 direct jobs within the province alone, not to mention the thousands of jobs downstream that depend on the goods that flow through them.

This would substantially impact exports for Canada’s biggest producers in sectors like agriculture, forestry, mining, and manufacturing, while also affecting imports of consumer goods used by Canadian families in their everyday lives. Last year’s 13-day strike resulted in exports from British Columbia ports falling 23% in July, hitting their lowest point since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Canadians cannot afford another labour disruption involving our critical infrastructure. Over the past year and a half, they have contended with the impacts of stoppages at both major rail networks, Vancouver grain terminals, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Port of Montreal, and British Columbia ports the first time. Adding to the impact on business is the lack of predictability also created by disputes we saw over the summer at the Canada Border Services Agency and Air Canada’s cargo network, as well as the currently evolving situation at Canada Post.

Now, the combined impacts of labour disruptions on both coasts are rippling throughout the economy, affecting Canadian consumers, employees, and businesses. These further tarnish Canada’s global reputation as a reliable trading partner and stable place to do business.

Additionally, as our relationship with the United States continues to evolve with the conclusion of the 2024 presidential election and the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, we cannot repeatedly jeopardize our most important bilateral economic partnership; we must strengthen resilient cross-border supply chains that enhance our shared economic security.

While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement so the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption. We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association
Animal Nutrition Association of Canada
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Beer Canada
British Columbia Construction Association
British Columbia Food & Beverage
Business Council of British Columbia
Business Council of Canada
Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters
Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Canadian Cattle Association
Canadian Construction Association
Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association
Canadian Corrugated & Containerboard Association
Canadian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Exporters Alliance
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Canadian Fluid Power Association
Canadian Food Exporters Association
Canadian Franchise Association
Canadian Fuels Association
Canadian Health Food Association
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Canadian Meat Council
Canadian Paint and Coatings Association
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Canadian Rental Association
Canadian Sugar Institute
Canadian Toy Association
Canola Council of Canada
Chamber of Shipping
Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
CIFFA Corp
Conseil du patronat du Québec
Electro Federation Canada
Federally Regulated Employers – Transportation and Communications (FETCO)
Fenestration Canada
Fertilizer Canada
Food and Beverage Canada
Food and Beverage Ontario
Food Producers of Canada
Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada
Freight Management Association of Canada
Global Automakers of Canada
Grain Growers of Canada
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada
Independent Contractors and Businesses Association
Manitoba Heavy Construction Association
New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia
Pets Canada
Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
Quebec Trucking Association
Railway Association of Canada
Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada
Responsible Distribution Canada
Restaurants Canada
Retail Council of Canada
Saskatchewan Mining Association
Shipping Federation of Canada
Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce
Southern Interior Construction Association
The Mining Association of Canada
Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association
Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition
Western Retail Lumber Association
Wheat Growers Association

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Alberta Chambers of Commerce
British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Burnaby Board of Trade
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce
Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant
Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce
Clarenville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce
Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce
Consort and District Chamber of Commerce
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Edson and District Chamber of Commerce
Estevan Chamber of Commerce
Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
High River Chamber of Commerce
Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
Leduc, Nisku & Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
London Chamber of Commerce
Madoc and District Chamber of Commerce
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce
Olds & District Chamber of Commerce
Ottawa Board of Trade
Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce
Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce
Quinte West Chamber of Commerce
Rocky Mountain House and District Chamber of Commerce
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce
St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce
Surrey Board of Trade
The Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce
WestShore Chamber of Commerce
Weyburn Chamber of Commerce