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Rail work stoppage shuts down some Canadian commuter rail lines and halts freight rail operations

Rail work stoppage shuts down some Canadian commuter rail lines and halts freight rail operations

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Railway workers in Canada are set to resume bargaining with the country's two largest railways, Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd., after contract talks broke off on Wednesday night. The lockout, which was implemented after the deadline for a new contract was missed, has already disrupted commuter railways in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, and has halted rail service in Southern Ontario. The shutdown is expected to have significant economic consequences, including disruptions to trade with the United States and other countries, as well as impacts on shipments of grain, potash, and coal. Industry groups had urged the government to prevent the stoppage, citing the importance of rail transport to Canada's economy. Approximately 6,500 containers enter the United States by rail every day, according to the Railway Association of Canada.

Justin Trudeau
Liberal Party
1. Significant two-way trade and deeply integrated supply chains between Canada and the United States mean that any significant rail disruption will jeopardize the livelihoods of workers across multiple industries on both sides of the border.
2. We are taking it so seriously. The minister is engaged directly.
3. 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.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference
1. The union did not respond to another offer by CN in a final attempt to avoid a labor disruption.
2. Despite months of good faith negotiations ... parties remain far apart, and both CN and CPKC have begun their lockout.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd
1. The TCRC [union] leadership continues to make unrealistic demands that would fundamentally impair the railway's ability to serve our customers with a reliable and cost-competitive transportation service.
Canadian National Railway Co
1. Without an agreement or binding arbitration, CN had no choice but to finalise a safe and orderly shutdown and proceed with a lockout.
2. Despite months of good faith negotiations on the part of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, parties remain far apart, and both CN and CPKC have began their lockout of 00:01 today … Despite the lockout, the Teamsters remain at the bargaining table with both companies.
EXO
1. The proposed bus shuttles will not be able to compensate for all the interrupted service on the three affected train lines, and we recommend that users plan alternative routes via existing regular services.
Paul Boucher
1. The railroads don't care about farmers, small businesses, supply chains or their own employees. Their sole focus is boosting their bottom line, even if it means jeopardizing the entire economy.
Perrin Beatty
1. The minister of labour must use the tools at his disposal to immediately resolve this conflict through binding arbitration.
Anderson Economic Group
1. Our experience with port shutdowns in the United States indicates that shippers will aggressively seek alternate routes, and industry will move to substitute other suppliers, especially during the first week of a strike or shutdown.

Rail work stoppage shuts down some Canadian commuter rail lines and halts freight rail operations

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