Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland The federal government is “very concerned” about the upcoming Canada Border Services AgencyCanada Border Services Agency)The strike could affect the economy.
Freeland said at a news conference on Friday that Ottawa is watching closely. CBSA strike Unless a deal is reached in the next few hours, negotiations will begin on Friday afternoon.
Asked how the border strike would affect Canada's economy, Freeland told reporters: “This is something our government is very concerned about. The parties are working hard on the negotiations and we believe that the best deal is made at the negotiating table.”
“That's what we're working towards and hoping for, and I agree with you about the absolute importance of trade to Canada and the efficient movement of goods across our borders.”
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Public Service Alliance of Canada (Public Service Commission) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) will take strike action at the Canadian border starting at 4 p.m. ET on Friday if no agreement is reached with the Canada Border Services Agency and the Finance Board by then.
The union said that while essential CBSA workers cannot strike, Canadians will still feel the impact, highlighting that a brief strike three years ago “nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill, causing severe delays at airports and borders across the country.”
“We still hope to avoid strike “We are very concerned about the impact these measures will have on travellers and commercial traffic across the Canadian border,” Sharon DeSousa, national president of the Public Service Commission of Canada, said at a news conference on Tuesday. “But we have set a deadline for the Trudeau Liberal government to produce a fair contract for workers.”
The upcoming strike could mean Canadians and tourists will once again face long lines at the border during the busy tourism season.
Freeland said the challenge posed by a potential strike to travelers’ ability to cross the border is “definitely a significant issue.”
“Our government takes this very seriously. The parties are working hard at the negotiating table. The best deals are made at the negotiating table,” she said, repeating her earlier comments.
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