麻豆影视

Politics

    • Railways prepare to restart after federal government forces binding arbitration in labour dispute

    Share

    Editor's note: Developing coverage from Friday, Aug. 23, here.

    Canada's Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is intervening to end a work stoppage that saw this country's two largest railways grind to a standstill Thursday, by forcing the parties into binding arbitration.

    Announcing the major move from Parliament Hill, MacKinnon said he is invoking powers under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to "assist the parties in settling the outstanding terms of their collective agreements by imposing final binding arbitration."

    MacKinnon has also ordered the board to extend the term on the parties' current collective agreements until new deals are signed, and is calling for operations on both railways to resume "forthwith." 

    The move has been met with relief from some and sparked condemnation from others.

    "Canadians must be assured that their government will not allow them to suffer when parties do not fill their responsibility to them at the bargaining table, especially where worker and community safety is at stake," he said, following a day of key meetings with stakeholders.

    In a first-ever simultaneous work stoppage, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) locked out Teamsters Canada rail workers early Thursday morning after months of failed negotiations, where safety issues, wages and what the union called a "forced relocation scheme" for workers were top issues in the talks.

    The unprecedented labour dispute snarled supply chains and complicated commutes for thousands across Canada.

    Contract talks continued as picket lines went up, demonstrators marched in front of the rail companies' headquarters in Montreal and Calgary, and thousands of railcars carrying a range of goods sat parked.

    At the same time, business groups, impacted industry leaders, as well as some premiers pressed the federal government to act given the critical transport lines 鈥 when running 鈥 carry more than $1 billion worth of goods each day, according to the Railway Association of Canada.

    As of 4:40 p.m. ET, when MacKinnon announced he'd be stepping in, an agreement between the parties remained "elusive," the minister 鈥 just over a month into the job 鈥 told reporters.

    "Collective bargaining negotiations belong to these parties, but their effects and the impacts of the current impasse are being borne by all Canadians," MacKinnon said. "As minister of labour, I'm using my authorities 鈥 to secure industrial peace and deliver the short- and long-term solutions that are in the national interest."

    Work begins to restart railways

    It remains unclear when exactly rail operations will resume, though the minister expressed hope it will be within a few days, as the impacts both on the daily lives of millions of Canadians and the economy "cannot be understated."

    MacKinnon said the lack of clarity is because as an arms-length body, the CIRB now has to consult with the parties involved before rendering a decision on next steps.

    "Obviously, I'm acting at a very early stage here and hoping they will act with similar dispatch 鈥 but again, I want to be deferential to the process that will unfold here," he said.

    In response to the federal government forcing arbitration, and said in a statement that it is now working on a "recovery plan," as the company is "satisfied that this labour conflict has ended."

    CPKC is "preparing to restart railway operations," but won't reveal further details on timing, until it receives the CIRB order. 

    "We regret that the government had to intervene because we fundamentally believe in and respect collective bargaining; however, given the stakes for all involved, this situation required action," CPKC president and CEO Keith Creel

    Both railways had called for binding arbitration, a move the union rebuffed. 

    Teamsters Canada said it will also be reviewing the minister's referral and the CIRB response, but that "picket lines remain in place."

    The union said it is "deeply disappointed by this shameful decision," and accused the Liberals of resorting to binding arbitration because they couldn't garner enough support for a legislated resolution.

    "The government has allowed CN and CPKC to sidestep a union determined to protect rail safety. Despite claiming to value and honour the collective bargaining process, the federal government quickly used its authority to suspend it, mere hours after an employer-imposed work stoppage," a statement from Teamsters Canada said.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had hinted earlier that the federal government would come forward with actions before the end of the day "to make sure that the right solution is found quickly for the economy."

    "We're taking it so seriously. The minister is engaged directly. We are not taking this lightly, obviously, because Canadians across the country are worried about it," Trudeau said Thursday in Sherbrooke, Que., in front of a manufacturer that would have been impacted if the shutdown continued much longer.

    "Collective bargaining is always the best way forward. When that is no longer a foreseeable option 鈥 when we are facing serious consequences to our supply chains and the workers who depend on it 鈥 governments must act," Trudeau posted online after his minister took action.

    Heading into crunch time, even with "significant" issues outstanding, MacKinnon said the federal government's position remained that the best outcome would be a negotiated agreement reached at the bargaining table.

    Asked why the government took the arbitration route now, rather than last week to avoid any economic harm, the minister said he wanted to give all parties the chance to come to a deal on their own.

    Singh calls Liberal move 'cowardly'

    Avoiding back-to-work legislation for now means the federal government won't have to recall Parliament and can pause on considering where it would secure political support to pass such a bill.

    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh reiterated Thursday his party's long-standing opposition to back-to-work legislation.

    Appearing alongside some of the 9,300 engineers, conductors and yard workers who were locked out, Singh said he didn't want to see any federal interference.

    It didn't take long for Singh 鈥 whose party continues to help prop up Trudeau's minority 鈥 to slam the Liberals' decision.

    "Justin Trudeau has just sent a message to CN, CPKC and all big corporations鈥攂eing a bad boss pays off. The Liberals' actions are cowardly, anti-worker and proof that they will always cave to corporate greed, and Canadians will always pay for it," he said in a statement.

    While the Bloc Quebecois was noncommittal on what the federal government should do, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is trying to court working-class voters 鈥 and backed the Liberals' recent anti-scab law 鈥 has avoided commenting on the situation.

    Ahead of MacKinnon's announcement, former Conservative labour minister Lisa Raitt said the federal Conservatives didn't need to weigh in until the federal government announced its next steps.

    Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe applauded the federal government for acting, saying that the move will "ensure our Canadian products are moving to market again."

    Echoing this, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called for operations to resume "immediately," as "each day this disruption continues will have costly impacts on our economy, workers, businesses, families and farmers."

    The federal government also announced Thursday plans to dig into the root causes behind the work stoppage.

    "It is the government's responsibility to ensure industrial peace in this critically vital sector," MacKinnon said. "Thus, we will be examining why we experience repeated conflicts in the railway sector and the conditions that led to the parallel work stoppages we are seeing."

    U.S. counterparts say 'huge relief'

    U.S. lawmakers were closely watching the work stoppage on this side of the border, given the impacts to routes linking their goods across the continent.

    Downplaying the pressure he faced from his American counterparts and business leaders, MacKinnon said the conversations he had in the lead-up to forcing the parties to iron out a deal were "very helpful."

    "I would categorize it, or characterize it, as helpful advice, understanding, and those relationships are extremely strong and I know the government is very grateful for them," he said.

    Speaking to 麻豆影视 Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos at the Democratic National Convention in Chigaco ahead of the Canadian government's announcement, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens from the key border state of Michigan said the rail stoppage was "significant" every minute it went on.

    Later, her colleague Congressman Dan Kildee expressed relief that the rail stoppage was on its way to being resolved.

    "It's a huge relief. I mean, our supply chain relies on the rail sector, and in Michigan in particular... We've been through this ourselves," Kildee said. "We're glad that at least for the time being, things have settled. We hope there's a permanent solution." 

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    opinion

    opinion How to transition from renting to owning a home in Canada

    In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers a step-by-step guide on how to make the shift from renting to becoming a homeowner, and what you can start doing today to help the process go smoother.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Canada

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair鈥檚 family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    • Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

      Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    • Researchers say taking a peek inside a person's brain is as difficult as understanding the universe or discovering the ocean in its entirety.

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city鈥檚 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift鈥檚 upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada鈥檚 largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • A man is wanted after allegedly presenting himself as a rideshare driver then sexually assaulting a woman from Brampton late last week, say police.

    • A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada's largest military bases.

    • Two semis were among the vehicles involved in a multi-vehicle crash that brought westbound traffic along Stoney Trail Northwest to a standstill on Sunday.

    • More than 700 people danced, ate, and sang to celebrate Diwali Saturday night at the Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Ottawa boy with a rare disease will be getting the chance to see Taylor Swift in concert after the winner and organizers of an auction held on his behalf gifted the tickets to him.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • A First Nation near Quebec City says the provincial government and Quebec鈥檚 hydro utility have ignored their constitutional duty to consult about four planned wind projects south of the Saint Lawrence River.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • Boasting 2,300 square metres of skating space at its new location, Edmonton's Rollers Roller Rink believes it is the largest in Canada.

    • A woman is dead after a driver crashed a truck through a Boston Pizza in Fort McMurray late Saturday morning.

    • Here鈥檚 what鈥檚 opened and closed across the Maritimes on Remembrance Day.

    • As Nova Scotia politicians make their fall election promises, Julie Leggett is urging them to commit to helping people on income assistance stay cool during heat waves.

    • A pillar in Canada鈥檚 history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers whipped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in Saturday's CFL West Division final to earn their fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book 鈥榃ar Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.鈥

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Twilight Tech Arcade, an entertainment location specializing in retro gaming, is closing its doors for the foreseeable future.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • The Guelph Police Service is putting out a warning after two deaths in the downtown area.

    • Two new tributes to Canada鈥檚 veterans have been unveiled at the Elmira Cenotaph.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca is livestreaming the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sudbury Community Arena starting Monday at 10:30 a.m.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • A group of former NHL players faced off against York Regional Police officers in Newmarket Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Special Olympics programs across the province.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • The agreed statement of facts was read to the court on Friday in the case of Alex Williams, the 24-year-old jail guard charged last fall with smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

    • For Gene Lotz, the spark of curiosity to delve into the history of those who served in war only began when the answers became difficult to find.

    • A Tilbury race car driver and his team are partnering with St. Clair College to give students a chance to see their design circle a racetrack. Driver Nathaniel Greenaway said the competition challenged third-year graphic design students to draft a wrap for his car ahead of next season.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year鈥檚 host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    • Residents in the Sault expressed concerns ranging from vandalism to privacy invasions during recent consultations on the city's plan to install automated speed enforcement cameras.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆影视