Customers of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. are calling on the federal government to introduce back-to-work legislation as a work stoppage at the Calgary-based railway continues into its second day.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e asking for all parties to find a very, very quick resolution,B次元官网网址� said Brian Kingston, president and chief executive of the Canadian Vehicle ManufacturersB次元官网网址� Association.

B次元官网网址淲e appreciate the fact that theyB次元官网网址檙e back at the table today. B次元官网网址� That said, if it becomes evident that there is simply no negotiated outcome possible, we would encourage the government to look at other options.B次元官网网址�

Approximately 3,000 conductors, engineers and train and yard workers with CP Rail were off the job over the weekend. The company and the union representing the workers, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, both blamed each other for causing the work stoppage, though both also said they were still talking with federal mediators.

A wide range of industry groups have raised the alarm about the potential economic impacts of a CP Rail shutdown, coming at a time when many businesses are already dealing with supply chain difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather, and the recent blockades of border crossings by protesters.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 agriculture industry is particularly concerned. On Monday, leaders of the Canadian CattlemenB次元官网网址檚 Association and the National Cattle FeedersB次元官网网址� Association were in Ottawa, urging the government to immediately bring an end to the work stoppage they say could devastate their industry.

B次元官网网址淚f these trains donB次元官网网址檛 run, weB次元官网网址檝e got maybe two weeks of feed left,B次元官网网址� said CattlemenB次元官网网址檚 Association president Bob Lowe, explaining that western Canadian cattle producers have been reliant on shipments of feed by rail from the U.S. this year in the wake of last summerB次元官网网址檚 drought and resultant widespread feed shortage.

B次元官网网址淭here is no Plan B. We have no other source of feed.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e are, in Canada, about four to six weeks from seeding season B次元官网网址� which means that farmers may not get all the fertilizer they need,B次元官网网址� said Fertilizer Canada chief executive Karen Proud, adding that could cause food prices to spike given the war in Ukraine and the impact itB次元官网网址檚 already had on global fertilizer supplies as well as the prices of wheat and other grains.

Proud said the fertilizer industry believes itB次元官网网址檚 time to introduce back-to-work legislation.

B次元官网网址淲e certainly respect the collective bargaining process, but clearly these two groups havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to reach an agreement. And now the government needs to act immediately,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ome of our members who produce fertilizer, donB次元官网网址檛 have the storage capacity if product isnB次元官网网址檛 being shipped out on the rails, so weB次元官网网址檙e looking at being days away from potentially having to shut down our production of fertilizer.B次元官网网址�

The House of Commons resumes today following a two-week break, so back-to-work legislation could come immediately if the federal government so chooses.

However, federal Labour Minister Seamus OB次元官网网址橰egan B次元官网网址� who is in Calgary on Monday and said in an emailed statement he will remain there until the two parties reach an agreement B次元官网网址� indicated over the weekend that the government believes the best deal is reached at the bargaining table.

B次元官网网址淲e could not agree more,B次元官网网址� said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, which has been calling for CP Rail to B次元官网网址渘egotiate in good faithB次元官网网址� with the Teamsters, in a release.

B次元官网网址淲e hope that the negotiations will be allowed to continue with mediation and that we avoid intervention by government. Let me be clear, back-to-work legislation is not needed.B次元官网网址�

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters in Ottawa on Monday that employing back-to-work legislation in a B次元官网网址渃avalierB次元官网网址� way interferes with the right of workers to use the ability to strike as a negotiation tool to improve working conditions.

B次元官网网址淭he fact that itB次元官网网址檚 already something thatB次元官网网址檚 being raised before workers have a chance to negotiate sends a message to employers that they donB次元官网网址檛 have to negotiate,B次元官网网址� Singh said. B次元官网网址淎nd thatB次元官网网址檚 wrong.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擜manda Stephenson, The Canadian Press