Premier David Eby welcomed Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 stepped up involvement in the current labour dispute at B.C. ports, but called on the federal government to play a bigger role in infrastructure.

Speaking at the Council of Federation in Winnipeg, Eby said Wednesday (July 12) that the current labour dispute needs to be urgently resolved.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very glad to see the federal government being actively involved at the table to get a lasting solution between the workers and the employer.害羞草研究所�

He made these comments after federal Labour Minister Seamus O害羞草研究所橰egan had given a federal mediator 24 hours to send him recommendations to end the current dispute between the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, which has largely shut down Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest and third-largest port.

Both sides in the ongoing British Columbia port strike will have to decide today whether to accept terms of the settlement recommended by a federal mediator that would end the 13-day-old industrial action.

More than 7,400 longshore workers went on strike almost two weeks ago after months of negotiations with help of the federal government had not resolved issues around pay and maintenance work.

The dispute has caused disruptions up and down supply chains and raised questions about the reliability of Canada害羞草研究所檚 economic infrastructure, a point of discussion which Eby said dominated talks during the final day of three-day-long meeting of provincial and territorial leaders.

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The Council of Federation called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to convene a First Ministers害羞草研究所� Meeting to discuss the related issues of economic competitiveness and strategic infrastructure.

害羞草研究所�(What) threatens to damage our international reputation is failure for the provinces and the federal government to be working together on a strategic infrastructure plan to get those goods to global markets that we produce here in Canada and to get imports in our country in a way that reduces costs for Canadians,害羞草研究所� Eby said.

The premier added the current labour dispute underscores the significance of the Port of Vancouver, but resolving the dispute itself won害羞草研究所檛 necessarily solve larger issues. He pointed to a recent survey that ranked the port second from bottom in terms of efficiency among 348 ports around the world.

害羞草研究所淭hese are problematic things,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut even worse, is the possibility that we害羞草研究所檙e not all sitting at the table to address these very serious and ongoing issues. That害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 our number one call (to the federal government).害羞草研究所�

This appeal for improvements in Canada害羞草研究所檚 economic infrastructure co-exists with appeals for additional investment in housing.

Eby said housing is one of the biggest economic constraints facing British Columbia and housing cannot stand separately from more traditional forms of infrastructure like roads and bridges.

害羞草研究所淪o the solution that we really came to at the table is that we need to have an integrated national approach to this central infrastructure,害羞草研究所� he said.

Eby also touched on the future of contract policing with the RCMP in his remarks.

The federal government is currently reviewing the role of the RCMP as a front-line policing supplier but Eby said affected premiers are still waiting to hear from Ottawa as existing contracts approach their end.

Three 20-year agreements that allow the RCMP to act as British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 provincial police force as well as the municipal force for municipalities are due to end in 2032 and Eby called on the federal government to provide clarity sooner rather than later.

害羞草研究所淲e need to which direction the federal government is going with contract policing, because the current situation is not sustainable,害羞草研究所� Eby said in referring to RCMP staff shortages across the province. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 see a clear path from the federal government about filling those vacancies (and) we have the largest RCMP contract force in Canada.害羞草研究所�

Municipalities with RCMP forces have also complained about rising costs and a lack of accountability, one recent sore point being the federal government害羞草研究所檚 refusal to absorb retroactive pay increases, leaving municipalities on the hook for somewhere between $138 and $145 million.

The federal government is planning to release an interim summarizing its review thus far in the fall.

害羞草研究所� with a file from The Canadian Press

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wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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