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Labor disagreement stops Canadian canola oil, forestry exports from West Coast

Canada's exports of canola oil and forest products from West Coast ports have actually halted due to a labor dispute, manufacturers stated on Thursday.

The stoppage, which started on Monday, involves minimal strike action by the longshore supervisors and a full lockout of Regional 514 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union by the B.C. Maritime Employers Association.

While bulk grain shipments are exempt from the British Columbia action, canola oil and forestry items are not covered by that federal labor code provision and are not being packed onto ships at Pacific ports.

Based on the market rate of canola oil, each day without deliveries represents C$ 4 million in lost profits, stated Chris Vervaet, the executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, which states it represents about 95% of Canada's canola and soybean crush capacity.

We really urge the federal government to get included and truly assist both sides to a resolution.

Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon has said both sides have an obligation to reach a contract. On Thursday he slammed the absence of apparent progress between the union and companies along with a smaller shutdown impacting some container traffic at the Port of Montreal.

Both sets of talks are progressing at an insufficient rate, indicating a concerning absence of seriousness from the parties included, said MacKinnon in a post on social networks platform X.

Vervaet stated Canada exports about one million metric tons of canola oil through the Port of Vancouver annual.

Canada is the world's leading exporter of the oilseed, and canola oil is the most valuable part of the crop.

The Forest Products Association of Canada also called for federal government intervention.

Wood, pulp, paper and by-product shipments by the organization's members make up about 17% of Vancouver's. container exports and 14% of Montreal's.

(source: Reuters)