Sask. premier urges federal government to intervene in CN Rail strike

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the federal government should already be working towards ending the CN Rail strike.

Moe says he has spoken to Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland about the strike, which he says will jeopardize jobs in his province if it continues.

He said Ottawa should signal it is willing “to take swift and urgent action” such as enacting a back-to-work bill. While binding arbitration could avert the need for the legislation, “we’re talking hours now, not days,” he told reporters Thursday.

About 3,200 member of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference walked off the job early Tuesday after the union and CN Rail failed to reach a contract deal.

Moe says Ottawa should signal that it’s willing to take action such as back-to work legislation to end the work stoppage.

He says waiting until Parliament reconvenes on Dec. 5 will be too late to alleviate some of the strike’s economic impacts.

The Alberta government and federal Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer have already called on the Liberals to recall Parliament sooner to enact legislation to deal with the strike.

The Canadian Press