Question Period Note: INDUSTRIAL INQUIRY COMMISSION ON LONGSHORING LABOUR DISPUTES AT WEST COAST PORTS

Current status on the Industrial Inquiry Commission’s final report on longshoring labour disputes at West Coast ports

• To improve collective bargaining between unions and employers at the West Coast ports, and to ensure stability of Canadian supply chains, the Government appointed an Industrial Inquiry Commission (Commission) to examine the structural issues underlying longshoring labour disputes at Canada’s West Coast ports.

• The Commission recently submitted its final report with its findings and recommendations.

• The Government thanks the Commission for its work and is carefully evaluating its findings and recommendations.

• On May 30, 2025, the Government shared the report with the parties at the West Coast ports as it examines next steps.

West Coast Ports Dispute
• The July 2023 labour dispute between ILWU Canada and BCMEA culminated into a 13-day strike at the West Coast ports. The work stoppage shut down major operations across West Coast ports, including the Port of Vancouver, which is the third largest port in North America in terms of volume and the largest in Canada.

• The strike caused serious disruptions to the Canadian economy and created significant obstacles to the movement of goods. This added to existing challenges for the economy, including supply chain volatility, wildfires, and labour shortages. The dispute impeded the movement of cargo valued at around $10 billion in total, significantly impacting Canadian supply chains in all regions of the country. The most impacted industries were transportation and warehousing, construction, manufacturing, natural resources, and retail trade.
Section 106 of the Code
• Section 106 of the Code allows the Minister of Labour to make any inquiries regarding matters that may affect industrial relations, including appointing an Industrial Inquiry Commission (Commission) under subsection 108(1).

• In August 2023, a former Minister of Labour initiated a process under section 106 of the Code to examine the structural issues underlying the summer 2023 strike at the West Coast ports and similar disputes at ports across Canada.

• The purpose of examining these issues is to support the development of long-term solutions that create a harmonious working environment between unions and employers, respect the collective bargaining process and secure the fundamental stability of Canda’s supply chains.

• On October 19, 2023, two experts were appointed, Kevin Banks and Anthony Giles, to identify the key questions requiring deeper examination and develop proposed Terms of Reference for a more comprehensive review.

• In January 2024, the experts submitted their final report and a proposed Terms of Reference. The report concluded that the West Coast ports represent a unique case study that should be the focus of a more comprehensive review.

IIC on the West Coast Ports
• On April 22, 2024, a former Minister of Labour appointed an IIC under section 108 of the Code to conduct a more comprehensive review of the underlying issues at the West Coast ports. The two-person Commission consisted of Vincent Ready as its Chair and Amanda Rogers as a Member.

• Budget 2024 provided $3.1 million over two years, starting in 2024-2025, to enable the Labour Program to complete this inquiry. The funding was sourced from existing resources within Employment and Social Development Canada.

• The Commission submitted its final report with recommendations to the former Minister of Jobs and Families. The report was shared with the parties on May 30, 2025.

Publication of the Report

• As required by the Canada Labour Code, the report has been shared with the parties involved.

• The report will also be published in the near future.

Findings of the Report

• The report highlights a number of underlying issues that are impacting longshoring labour disputes at Canada’s West Coast ports. It underscores that the longshoring industry has undergone significant transformation over the last few decades, and that the West Coast ports are facing complex challenges and evolving dynamics impacting collective bargaining.

• It suggests that these challenges necessitate attention and action to ensure that the rights of union members are appropriately balanced with employer rights and the national interest in maintaining labour stability.

• The Government is carefully evaluating the Commission’s findings and recommendations as it considers next steps.

“The workers and businesses that depend on our West Coast ports deserve long-term solutions. They deserve solutions that respect the collective bargaining process. They deserve stability and certainty in our supply chains.”

• Statement by the former Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan Jr. on April 22, 2024