Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomes back-to-work legislation at the Port of Montreal, calls for swift passage

(OTTAWA) – April 25, 2021 – The Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement in response to the announcement of back-to-work legislation at the Port of Montreal by Labour Minister Filomena Tassi:

“We are pleased to see Minister Tassi’s announcement that she will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday morning. The prospect of a second strike in seven months has disrupted supply chains in all industries and hampered Canada’s economic recovery at a time of severe downturn.  As the second-largest port in Canada, the Port of Montreal is an essential contributor to Canada’s trade with the world. A labour stoppage would not only prevent goods from passing through the port but would also create congestion at other ports, causing bottlenecks at key points of entry for Canadian businesses.

We call upon all Members of Parliament to pass the bill expeditiously to prevent the serious damage a strike would have on jobs and on Canada’s economic recovery.”