Rail shutdown likely as labour minister says ‘significant issues’ remain

Canada’s labour minister said late Wednesday that “significant issues” remain in negotiations between the country’s two main rail companies and unions, making a nationwide rail shutdown almost certain.

Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon spoke to Global News in Calgary following a meeting with representatives of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, a day after he sat down with Canadian National and its union chapter in Montreal to urge all parties to reach a deal.

“I think it’s fair to say there are significant issues that remain to be resolved,” MacKinnon said. “But the parties are there and they’re doing the work, and we are obviously investing all of our efforts into making sure that they have everything they need to make the compromises required to get a deal.”

Freight trains across Canada are expected to come to a grinding halt as soon as 12:01 a.m. Thursday with roughly 9,000 railway employees nearing a looming strike or lockout date.

The rail companies and union have traded accusations of refusing to engage on certain sticking points, and mediators have been brought in to try and break the impasse over scheduling issues and safety concerns from workers.

A stoppage would disrupt supply chains not just within Canada but across the continent, with allied rail workers in the U.S. vowing their support for the Canadian Teamsters members on Wednesday.

MacKinnon said he travelled to Montreal and Calgary to represent “those who don’t have a voice at that table,” including business owners and workers whose goods won’t be shipped and “commuters, farmers, ranchers,” as well as average consumers.

“The economic consequences would be far-reaching, and the impact on everyday Canadians would be