The Fisheries Council of Canada, a trade group representing the nation’s commercial fishing industry, has expressed its support for government intervention in Canada’s port reopenings.
After labor disputes closed Canada’s three largest ports last week, Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon said that the Canadian Industrial Relations Board would reopen all port operations and move labor discussions to binding arbitration. Citing an impasse in the collective bargaining negotiations at the ports of British Columbia, Montreal, and Quebec, MacKinnon said that the country “simply cannot afford this uncertainty and instability at this moment.”
In a 19 November press release, the Ottawa, Ontario-based trade group stated that the situation at the ports had “broad implications, affecting not only the seafood industry but also the Canadian economy and consumers nationwide.”
"We recognize and respect the important role that port workers have in bolstering Canada’s economy, and we support efforts to find a balanced solution that maintains stability for all involved," FCC Chair Alberto Wareham said. “Our members are critical to the economies on all three of Canada’s coasts, creating good-paying jobs that support our communities. They work hard to deliver sustainable, high-quality seafood to markets across the country and globally. A functional and stable port system is essential to their continued success.”
The FCC also noted that Canada’s seafood industry supports nearly 90,000 jobs and generates nearly CAD 9 billion (USD 6.4 billion, EUR 6.2 billion) in annual contribution to the nation's GDP.
