Provincial Highways Minister Lori Carr wrote to the federal government, urging them to use available measures to prevent a work stoppage of CPKC and CN Rail while the railways and union negotiate a new collective agreement.

Measures Carr referenced include back-to-work legislation and a directive for binding arbitration that would prohibit the union from job action.

She noted Canada and Saskatchewan’s success in international markets relies on exporters delivering quality products on time, and went as far to say even a minor disruption could “lead to lost contracts, shutdowns, and reduced revenues, costing the Canadian economy tens of millions of dollars per day, with the financial impact escalating the longer it continues.”

Carr also said producers depend on rail service to transport large volumes of grain, potash, oil, and other key exports.

Carr directed the letter to Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, and Premier Scott Moe shared the letter on X.

Pulse Canada and several other farm groups have started an initiative called “stop the strike”.

The website the groups created, stopthestrike.ca, outlines the importance of rail service and the potential impacts a strike or lockout could have on farmers and the economy.

They also have graphics people can share on social media and a letter people can add their names to, to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, urging him to use all measures at his disposal to facilitate a collective agreement between the railways and union.

Both CN and CPKC Rail have started to block shipments of hazardous materials in anticipation of a work stoppage.

Both also warned last week they will lock out workers on August 22nd if they can’t breakthrough in negotiations which have stalled over crew scheduling, fatigue management, and wages.