Notice of a strike at the Port of Montreal: the business community calls for an immediate intervention by the Government of Canada to avoid any impediment to activities at the port

MONTRÉAL, April 13, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - The Association du camionnage du Québec, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), and the Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ) are extremely concerned about the impact of weeks of uncertainty at the Port of Montreal.

Now that a strike notice has been filed by the CUPE Longshoremen's Union (local 375) to suspend certain activities, including training, overtime, and weekend work, during a joint press conference these associations called for a firm and immediate intervention by the federal government to ensure activities at the Port of Montreal are maintained at all times and to reassure businesses.

"Every day, 2,500 trucks move through the Port of Montreal, representing over 2,400 containers daily," said Marc Cadieux, president and CEO of the ACQ. "Our members are already seeing a reduction in volume and goods being diverted to other ports. This has direct, major repercussions for the economy and for the supply of goods and products for Canadians. Our members anticipate job losses because a stoppage in port activities forces carriers to suspend operations and reduce personnel. We are therefore asking the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, to intervene immediately to prevent a situation that would have major economic consequences for Quebec and Canada."

"The situation is deteriorating at the Port of Montreal," said Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. "We have been saying it for weeks: a stoppage in activities ? even partial ? is irresponsible. The port is a strategic, essential pillar for the health of our businesses and a successful relaunch. The decisions we make today will have repercussions for months. Canada's Minister of Labour, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, must act now and require an immediate return to normal activities to ensure the fluidity of the logistics chain. It is time to show firm resolve for the economic well-being of society." 

"The Port of Montreal is the centre of a web that connects all supply chains in Quebec, regardless of sector of activity," said Karl Blackburn, president and CEO of the CPQ. "A shutdown in operations, just as we are trying to recover from the pandemic, would be highly detrimental. It would affect not only businesses, directly and indirectly, but also citizens, and in some cases hospitals. The Minister of Labour must intervene to maintain activities at the port and use all the powers of the Canada Labour Code to limit the negative impact on our economy and local businesses that are trying to survive the crisis."

"After a year of the pandemic during which local entrepreneurs have seen a drop-off in clients, it is unthinkable that they should now have to deal with supply problems because of a labour conflict," said Charles Milliard, president and CEO of the FCCQ. "The current pressure tactics have major consequences for thousands of businesses across Quebec that depend on the port for the logistics chain. A large swath of interprovincial trade is affected by the strike, the effects of which will be felt by our neighbours. This is not a labour relations matter, but rather a major economic issue during a historic crisis. The Canadian government cannot let the situation go on and needs to intervene for the good of the economy of Quebec and Canada."

"Maintaining activities at the Port of Montreal is of utmost importance for the Canadian economy," said Jasmin Guénette, vice-president, National Affairs, for the CFIB. "A second strike in such a short time could have a negative impact on the activities of many SMEs. In Quebec alone, more than half of entrepreneurs are concerned about such an impact. This is a critical moment. The government needs to act quickly. It must spare no effort to ensure we do not penalize SMEs, which have already been shaken by the pandemic."

"Quebec's manufacturers and exporters did not sit down at the negotiation table, but they are the ones most impacted by the current situation," said Véronique Proulx, president and CEO of the MEQ. "This creates a dilemma for local businesses. The uncertainty directly hampers the economic relaunch, just as the Government of Canada is investing billions to restart the economy. To be consistent, the federal government needs to intervene to ensure activities at the Port of Montreal are maintained."

Joint declaration for government intervention: nearly 450 signatures of support collected

On March 18, the six organizations issued a joint declaration calling on Canada's Minister of Labour, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, and the government to make every effort to ensure activities are maintained at the port and reassure businesses. To date, the declaration has garnered close to 450 signatures from all sectors of activity from Quebec and Ontario.

To consult the declaration and the list of signatories:
https://www.ccmm.ca/fr/declarationportdemontreal-conflitdetravail/

About the Association du camionnage du Québec (ACQ)

The ACQ brings together public and private carriers and product and services providers in Quebec's trucking industry. With a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles, it represents 75% of owners of fleets of five vehicles and more. In Quebec, the industry generates revenue of close to $7.6 billion. 

About the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)

With a network of over 8,000 members, the CCMM is active on two fronts: being the voice of the Montréal business community and delivering specialized services to businesses and their representatives. With its finger on the pulse of current events, it acts on issues that are decisive for the prosperity of the city's businesses. With the support of the Acclr experts, the CCMM's goal is to accelerate the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes, at home and around the world.

About the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ)

The CPQ was created in 1969 as the result of a consensus among businesses, unions and universities. It is made up of close to 100 industry associations and a number of corporate members (businesses, institutions and other employers). It represents the interests of over 70,000 private and parapublic employers of all sizes.

About the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

The CFIB is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

About the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ)

With its extensive network of more than 130 chambers of commerce and 1,100 corporate members, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) represents over 50,000 businesses involved in all sectors of the economy throughout Québec. As the province's premier business network, the FCCQ serves as both a federation and a provincial chamber of commerce. Its members share a common goal: to foster an innovative and competitive business environment.

About Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ)

MEQ represents 1,100 manufacturers across Québec. Québec's manufacturing sector employs close to 450,000 people and accounts for 14% of GDP and 89% of exports. It is growing rapidly and generated total sales of close to $170 billion in 2019.

SOURCE Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal