The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) welcomes the Building Canada Strong Act’s inclusion of key recommendations from the Industrial Inquiry Commission’s report on West Coast ports.
Introduced by Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon, Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu, and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc, much of the legislation aims to strengthen the Canadian supply chain and improve stability at West Coast ports.
If passed, Bill C-39 would address the structural challenges unique to West Coast ports that labour experts Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers identified in their May 2025 Industrial Inquiry Commission report.
“Allowing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to consider an employer-initiated application for geographic certification, and creating a new Special Mediator, will help promote meaningful collective bargaining,” said Mike Leonard, CEO of the BCMEA. “Together, these changes will protect industry bargaining and help stabilize the bargaining framework at Canada’s largest maritime gateway.”
With $1.1 billion in cargo crossing West Coast docks every day, labour stability protects Canadian businesses and jobs and strengthens Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner.
The labour disruptions of 2023 and 2024 illustrated the economic consequences of instability, prompting the federal government to launch the Industrial Inquiry Commission to help create the conditions for long-term stability on the West Coast.
As the Commission noted “there is an urgent need to adapt to the changing global marketplace that poses a very real threat to the livelihood of longshore workers if the West Coast ports are not competitive and reliable.” Acting on the Commission’s recommendations is essential to strengthening Canada’s economy and trade relationships.
The BCMEA remains committed to working in good faith with our ILWU union partners to reach fair, durable agreements that serve workers, employers, and the communities and Canadians that rely on our West Coast ports.
(Photo shows ILWU member dockers on past strike in Vancouver)