QUESTION PERIOD — Transport

My question is for Senator Gold. Yesterday, dock workers at the Port of Montreal initiated a three-day strike at an estimated cost of more than $90 million each day. This is the third strike in Montreal in the last five years. As of this morning, our neighbour in trade — the United States — is going through its own indefinite strike at its east and gulf coast ports, costing the U.S. economy $5 billion per day.

Last week, during an active strike at the Port of Vancouver costing Canada $35 million a day, I asked you if you would commit to having a conversation with our government on making Canada’s grain transportation system an essential service. Senator Gold, did you have this conversation?

Thank you for your question. I don’t recall what my answer was to you, but I am not in the habit of revealing conversations that I have had in confidence with members of the cabinet.

The fact is that there are many sectors — grain being a very important one — that are affected by work stoppages or lockouts in our ports. Indeed, thank you for underlining the fact that the problems we face are shared in other jurisdictions. I understand that this is a three-day strike at two terminals in the Port of Montreal. I understand further that the strike will conclude on October 3 at 6:59 a.m. The Port of Montreal is a critical part of our supply chains. The parties must return to the table to address the work needed to get a deal done quickly. Negotiated settlements are always the best way forward.

Senator Gold, the frequency of these strikes highlights the fragility of our supply chain. It leaves our farmers in an incredibly vulnerable situation. Has the government put any thought into a long-term solution to fix this persistent vulnerability that does not simply involve a call for arbitration?

The government is very concerned about the impact of supply chain disruptions on the agricultural sector and, indeed, on many others and will continue to explore creative ways. In the spirit of transparency, which is what I try to achieve here, the government believes that collective bargaining is the best solution for Canada as a whole, for the workers in whatever unions they’re involved in and, indeed, for the industries that —