B.C.’s mining companies will see their operations disrupted due to this morning’s Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP) strike, which has suspended all the company’s freight services across the country.
But Lower Mainland commuters will not see the strike disrupt West Coast Express commuter train service.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference went on strike early this morning. The union represents 4,800 engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers in Canada.
In a statement issued this morning, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) expressed grave concern regarding the significant economic impact that the rail strike will have on mining communities and urged the federal government to intervene.
According to the association, the rail disruption will affect mining companies dependent on rail to either transport fuel in or move products and byproducts out of their operations.
“A strike by CP workers will have a serious effect on the industry,” said MAC president and CEO Pierre Gratton. “The shipment of fuel and other supplies to mine sites will be compromised as is the transport of mineral products.”
MAC added that the strike will hurt Canada’s economy as a whole.
“In this time of post-recession economic recovery, a threat to the stability of the natural resource sector is a threat to the stability of a stalwart of the Canadian economy,” the organization said in a statement.
However, while the strike is hitting B.C.’s mining industry, Lower Mainland commuters have not lost their access to commuter train the West Coast Express.
According to the West Coast Express website, service won’t be disrupted because federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has facilitated an agreement with CP Rail unionized employees that will allow train crews to cross picket lines and run commuter rail services.
Yesterday, the commuter train announced that it was bracing for strike action with expanded TrainBus services and bus shuttles to SkyTrain stations.
