The federal government introduced legislation Nov. 30 that would force striking Canadian National Railway engineers back to work and send the outstanding issues to binding arbitration.
The government called for quick passage of the legislation, but immediately hit an opposition wall.
Urban Ontario New Democrat Chris Charlton accused CN management and the government of trying to create a sense of urgency about the strike.
“That urgency, frankly, right now does not exist,” she told the House of Commons.
“New Democrats will not be supporting this draconian measure to end the labour dispute at the Canadian National Railway.”
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The Bloc Québécois were on the same side.
The Liberal position on the legislation was unclear, arguing that the government should allow the parties to negotiate a settlement.
Farm shippers who spoke out on the issue in the early days of the strike disagreed that there was no sense of urgency.
Sales could be lost and late delivery fees could start to pile up, they argued.
Labour minister Rona Ambrose introduced the back-to-work bill but said she hoped it would push the Teamsters and CN to come to an agreement.
Meanwhile, the government introduced a motion that would see the legislation pushed through the House of Commons in one sitting. Debate on that motion was adjourned.
Opposition MPs opposed it, but Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale said Nov. 30 the rules allow the government to move the bill through the House quickly.
“Once they start that process that they started at noon today, the other steps to manage the time and the debate are open to the government to take almost immediately, if they want to.”
Ambrose told reporters that it is important the strike be ended quickly before economic consequences begin to be felt.
“The CN rail system covers 20,000 kilometres from coast to coast,” she said.
“Shippers rely on CN. Farmers rely on CN. Companies from every province and territory in this country rely on the CN rail system.”
