On Wednesday, Canada’s Labour Minister, Lisa Raitt, took action to help ensure both parties in the British Columbia Ports dispute reach a new collective agreement by referring the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The negotiations in question are between the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association and ILWU Canada (Foremen and Longshoremen).

“I have formally requested the CIRB to examine the West Coast ports situation in an effort to ensure that the flow of goods and services are not put in jeopardy,” said Riatt.

From a Human Resources and Skills Development Canada news release