Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is urging the federal government, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU), the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU) to reach an immediate agreement and refrain from striking at British Columbia Ports.
Some of the largest users of port services are manufacturers. Our industry’s ability to receive inputs and get their products to market depends on ports. These disruptions pose a threat to our businesses, harm Canada’s international reputation as a reliable trading partner, further weaken supply chains, and cost jobs. Dennis Darby, President and CEO of CME, stated, “The federal government must do everything in its power to avoid this strike and to develop legislative solutions to prevent future disruptions to Canada’s fragile transportation network.”
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada (roughly equivalent to the size of the next five largest ports combined in Canada) and one of the top 30 ports in the world by the amount of cargo handled. It enables annual trade of more than $275 billion in goods with more than 170 trading economies and generates more than 115,000 jobs related to the supply chain. BC Ports are big supporters of Canada’s trade, which is important for the country’s economic growth because it connects it to trade markets around the world.
