Premier Scott Moe attempted to move an emergency motion in the legislative assembly on Thursday morning calling for immediate action to be taken to resolve the CN Rail strike. The motion that was subsequently blocked by the Official Opposition was worded as follows:
That this Assembly call on the federal government to immediately end the CN Rail strike through binding arbitration or back to work legislation in order to provide support for our critical agricultural, mining and energy sectors.
“Each day that a work stoppage continues is a day of moving product to market that our agricultural producers, potash industry and energy sector cannot get back,” said Moe. “By calling for immediate action to be taken to resolve this labour disruption, our government is demonstrating our support for the hardworking families and communities that rely on CN rail to do business. It is disappointing that the Official Opposition chose to block this motion and failed to stand up for our vital industries.”
Moe wants both parties involved in the dispute to step forward and find a resolution as soon as possible in order to not impact the broader economy and families across the province.
When speaking to journalists on Thursday morning in the rotunda, he said the federal government should reconvene before December 5 to submit legislation that would help put pressure on the sides to agree on a deal if this strike drags on.
“We’re talking about hours now, not days, that the federal government should entertain coming back sooner rather than later.”
While Premier Moe moved the emergency motion to support the hardworking families, communities, and businesses that rely on CN, the Official Opposition chose to block debate on the motion.
The NDP tried to amend the motion saying that the Assembly recognizes the importance of rail access to the Saskatchewan economy, including to farmers, miners, and energy workers, and that they recognize the collective bargaining rights of workers thus they call upon CN to urgently negotiate a fair deal to get Saskatchewan products moving to market, but it was blocked by government members.
Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon was the MLA to introduce the resolution on Thursday. He said politics are being played by the premier and the Sask Party on this front, affecting the chance to find an early solution to the problem.
“We were more than prepared to enter in a constructive way and make a constructive call when we aimed with a counter motion when a motion was shared with us today that we weren’t going to be able to support,” said Wotherspoon.
He thinks the fact they are dealing with a duopoly which serves Saskatchewan exports is an example of the company holding the province hostage in this ordeal.
“Sadly, a producer who has taken that crop off in terrible conditions with damaged prices and market access issues, is now left at the mercy at one of those members who are not moving grain.”
Wotherspoon wants the provincial government to seek support from the federal government to help lean on CN Rail in order to move the sides towards a fair deal as soon as possible.