Government of Canada must act immediately to prevent public health crisis in the wake of an unprecedented rail disruption

August 22, 2024

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) calls on the Government of Canada to intervene immediately to restore essential rail service in the wake of the unprecedented rail labour disruption that fully took effect at 00:01 today. 

“With each passing day of this first-in-history suspension of national rail service, the impacts on the economy, public safety, affordability and availability will grow exponentially,” said Bob Masterson, President and CEO of CIAC. 

This work stoppage will soon lead to significant public safety impacts as 96 per cent of Canadians rely on safe drinking water that needs chlorine and chlorine derivatives. As the supply of these chemicals dwindle in the coming days, municipalities across the country will be forced to issue boil water advisories. 

The rail service disruption also has significant impacts for the broader economy. Canada’s chemistry sector moves over 500 rail cars of product each day. While chlorine is critical in providing safe drinking water to Canadians, other chemistries manufactured in Canada are essential building blocks used in other sectors in Canada and North America including agriculture and agrifood, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, construction, automotive, mining and forestry.  

Given the unprecedented nature of the situation, it is time for the Government of Canada or parliament to take action to end this dispute. The federal government and parliament are the only players with the authorities and mandate to protect the economy, to safeguard our most important trading relationship, and to ensure public safety in the face of the disruption already underway for chemical producers and their key customers in Canada and across North America.  

It’s time for the Government of Canada to impose binding arbitration with a prohibition on the right to strike / lockout. Failing that, parliamentarians must be prepared to introduce and pass back to work legislation. The time to act is now.