Trudeau Calls on Railways, Union to Reach Deal to Avoid Strike
August 21, 2024
By Laura Dhillon Kane (Bloomberg) —
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Canada’s two largest railways and unionized workers to reach an agreement to avert a strike or lockout that businesses warn will cause significant harm to the Canadian and US economies.
Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. plan to lock out more than 9,000 workers from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference on Thursday at 12:01 a.m. New York time. The union issued a strike notice to Canadian Pacific for the same time. Trudeau said Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon is meeting with the parties in Calgary, following a meeting in Montreal on Tuesday.
“My message has been straightforward: It is in the best interest of both sides to continue doing the hard work at the table to find a negotiated resolution,” Trudeau told reporters Wednesday in Buckingham, Quebec. “Millions of Canadians — workers, farmers, businesses — right across the country are counting on both sides to do the work and get to a resolution.”
MacKinnon declined a request from Canadian National to impose binding arbitration last week, but it remains an option as the hours tick down to the midnight deadline.
The strike would be the first in nearly six decades involving both railway companies, which account for 80% of the Canadian rail network. Business groups have said C$1 billion ($736 million) in goods are transported by rail each day in Canada. A rail stoppage would also thwart some commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Brendan LaCerda, an economist with Moody’s Corp., estimates that the direct economic damage of a rail strike would be C$341 million per day. That estimate excludes indirect impacts, such as a hit to consumer and business confidence or an increase in the rate of inflation.
“The industries hit hardest by a rail strike would be paper and wood products, agriculture and farming, exporters, motor vehicles, metals, and quarrying,” he wrote in a report to investors on Wednesday.
The dispute has already begun to impact the movement of products including wheat, chemicals and fertilizers throughout Canada and the US. The two rail operators started a phased shutdown of the network last week and AP Moller-Maersk told customers it was no longer accepting shipments for Canada that need to travel by train — though a spokesperson later said that was a miscommunication.
Multiple industry and business associations, including the US Chamber of Commerce and its Canadian counterpart, have urged Trudeau’s government to step in to stop a “devastating” rail stoppage from happening. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said his department is closely monitoring the negotiations, engaging with Canadian officials and tracking the flow of vital goods to US consumers and businesses.
The union is seeking stronger provisions around rest time, while the companies say their offers meet regulatory requirements and in no way endanger safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also urged the companies and union to swiftly resolve their dispute, telling reporters in Edmonton that she has “no patience with dilly dallying” given the “serious” consequences. Freeland, who’s also finance minister, declined to comment on what it would take for the federal government to intervene, adding that she thinks the best deals are reached at the bargaining table.
“I want them to roll up their sleeves to recognize Canadians need them to get this done, to reach a deal so we can keep on moving forward,” she said.
© 2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Canada Transportation Safety Board Investigation Unveils Critical Flaws in Toronto Ferry Operations
Mike Schuler
August 21, 2024
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation report into a 2022 incident involving the passenger ferry Sam McBride in Toronto, Ontario. The ferry struck the dock at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, resulting in injuries to approximately 20 passengers.
The incident occurred on August 20, 2022, when the ferry, carrying about 910 passengers and six crew members, approached the dock faster than usual. Only one of the vessel’s two propellers was operational during the approach, which proved insufficient to stop the ferry.
The TSB investigation revealed several critical safety deficiencies in passenger safety management. These include the lack of written procedures for safe docking practices by the City of Toronto, insufficient crew training in emergency passenger management, unrealistic evacuation procedures, and inadequate passenger counting methods, particularly for children and infants.
“The investigation found that the City of Toronto did not have written procedures addressing issues like safe approach speed for docking,” the report stated. “Instead, masters were left to operate in the way that they deemed appropriate. Without written procedures that defined safe practices for docking, decisions around travel or docking speed may have been influenced by operational pressures.”
In response, the TSB has issued three recommendations to Transport Canada aiming to address critical safety deficiencies in passenger ferry operations. The recommendations include implementing mandatory passenger safety management training for all crew members, establishing a formal validation process for evacuation procedures, and ensuring accurate passenger counts, including separate tallies for children and infants.
Since the incident, the City of Toronto has taken steps to improve safety, including increasing the Sam McBride‘s crew size to 13 and enhancing passenger safety measures.
You can find the TSB investigation report here. https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2022/m22c0231/m22c0231.html
Heemskerkgracht grounds in Seaway
The saltwater vessel Heemskerkgracht ran aground at Kahnawake, QC, sometime Thursday after it lost power. Traffic in the area has come to a halt. There was no injuries or pollution reported. The Netherlands-flagged vessel departed Duluth Aug. 12 for Spain.
Numerous close calls with S.S. Badger in Ludington Harbor
leads to temporary fishing boat ban during set times
LUDINGTON, Mich – A number of close calls between fishing boats and the S.S. Badger led authorities in Ludington to restrict when anglers can drop their lines in the channel.
The Ludington Police Department said since last week, numerous fishing boats failed to give way to the S.S. Badger. In some cases, authorities said, the Badger’s captain had to take action to avoid a collision.
The harbor is proven to be a great fishing spot for anglers targeting salmon and other species. But area law enforcement said the channel is a navigation space first and a fishing location second.
The S.S. Badger can’t easily maneuver around the many smaller boats that have anchored up in the harbor, authorities said.
Chief of Police and Harbormaster Christopher Jones issued Harbormaster Order 24-01 Thursday afternoon. The order temporarily prohibits fishing and other non-transitory activities within the City of Ludington Harbor for a few hours at a time in the morning and evening hours, matching up with when the S.S. Badger departs and arrives at her port.
The United States Coast Guard, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, and Ludington Police are working together to enforce Harbormaster Order 24-10. There’s a similar USCG order.
“The order was not created in haste, but rather out of caution and as a result of the failure of boaters and those fishing to give way to a much larger vessel, creating a hazardous environment,” the Ludington Police Department said.
“We would like to thank the fishing and boating communities for their anticipated cooperation. We will revisit this order on a regular basis, to determine its effectiveness and need.”
The order goes into effect on Thursday, Aug. 22 and runs through Sept. 1, 2024, based on the day of the week:
Monday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
Thursday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.
Friday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.
Saturday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Sunday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Additionally, the order goes into effect on Sept. 2 through Sept. 15, from 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m., and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
Ontario invests $10 million to train shipyard workers
St. Catharines, ON. – The Ontario government has announced it is investing $10 million to train workers for careers in the shipbuilding and repair sector, including at St. Catharines, ON.
Premier Doug Ford was in St. Catharines today to make the announcement, saying he is proud to support the shipbuilding industry in St. Catharines and other areas which build and repair ships.
“We’re proud to invest in the workers who are powering Ontario’s world-class shipbuilding industry here in St. Catharines and in communities across the province,” said Ford. “We need all levels of government to step up and recognize the extraordinary potential of this industry and its workers by ensuring that much-needed Canadian vessels are built in Ontario, by Ontario shipbuilders.”
Ontario Shipyards Inc., which is based in St. Catharines, will deliver the training, re-skilling and up-skilling programs for careers in the millwright, welding, electrical and painting trades in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay.
Courses will include ship building and ship repair, shipyard orientation and health and safety procedures, along with professional development, leadership training and mentoring to recruit and retain the next generation of leaders and workers.
Mayor of St. Catharines Mat Siscoe says the investment is a welcome step for the workers of the community.
“Niagara has a strong marine legacy of building ships with remarkable workmanship and skill. This investment from the Skills Development Fund in Ontario Shipyards will provide strong opportunities for good jobs and careers with bigger pay checks for many Niagara workers, as we build world-class ships. This is what getting it done for economic growth looks like in our region.” Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries and MPP for Niagara West
CKTB
National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion
Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.
The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.
“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.
“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,
The National Museum of the Great Lakes
Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public
Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.
Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
