THE Canadian government has moved to end the work stoppages that have disrupted operations the nation’s major ports.

Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon on Tuesday instructed the Canada Industrial Relations Board, a labour tribunal, to order “the resumption of all operations and functions” at the ports, and to “assist the parties by imposing final and binding arbitration”.

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association locked out forepersons with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 starting November 4, after the union rejected the employers’ contract offer and issued a 72-hour strike notice.

On Monday, a labour dispute at the port of Montreal escalated after the Maritime Employers Association locked out dockworkers following their rejection of a new contract offer.

“Collective bargaining negotiations between the parties in the ports of British Columbia, Montreal and Quebec are all at an impasse,” MacKinnon said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The responsibility for these negotiations belongs to the parties alone, but the impacts are being borne by all Canadians. We simply cannot afford this uncertainty and instability at this moment.”

BCMEA appeared to welcome the decision, saying it was looking forward to “safely resuming operations across Canada’s west coast ports”.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents dockworkers in Montreal, said it was “extremely disappointed” by MacKinnon’s decision.

“The MEA locks out our members and in the same breath goes crying to the Minister that their own actions are creating chaos in Canada,” Mark Hancock, national president of CUPE, said in a statement.

“The minister encourages employers to trample on workers’ fundamental rights instead of addressing their needs for work-life balance.”