CUSTOMER ADVISORY

Dear Customer,

Please find an update received from the Freight Management Associate of Canada.

According to a report that appeared in today's edition of “La Presse” (a major Quebec news publication), the federal government is prepared to intervene quickly in the event of a strike by longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, including through the tabling of back-to-work legislation.

The report notes that federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi has been working on an emergency plan with respect to the labour situation, which is aimed at avoiding a prolonged shutdown of port operations in a context where the economy has already suffered significant economic impacts due to the ongoing pandemic.  

The labour situation was also discussed during a recent meeting between Prime Minister Trudeau and Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who is placing significant pressure on the federal government to avoid a repeat of the work stoppage (and resulting economic impacts) that occurred last summer.

The above being said, all parties agree that a return to the negotiating table and the conclusion of an agreement that is acceptable to both sides represents the optimal means of resolving the current impasse.

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as developments occur.

FMA participated in a call today on the Port of Montreal situation, hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.  During the call, the representative from the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) mentioned that the Labour Canada mediators are expected to call the parties to negotiation sessions this week.  

We will keep the FMA membership informed as new information becomes available

As previously mentioned, letters from individual companies stating the damage to their operations, their customers, and suppliers, will be important in ensuring the government is aware of the damage that this labour dispute is causing.

FMA continues to recommend that member companies reach out to the Labour Minister, other Cabinet Ministers, and to MPs in ridings where their facilities are located. 

Here are the email addresses of the Labour Minister and other suggested Cabinet Ministers.

Hon. Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour:    filomena.tassi@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister:  pm@pm.gc.ca;

Oliver Duchesne, PM staff member:  olivier.duchesneau@pmo-cpm.gc.ca;

Hon. Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Natural Resources:
NRCan.Minister-Ministre.RNCan@Canada.ca;

Hon. Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport:  mintc@tc.gc.ca;

Hon. Francois-Phillipe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry: 

francois-philippe.champagne@parl.gc.ca;
Hon. Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs:  marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca

We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Sincerely,

HENSALL GLOBAL LOGISTICS