Days after ordering an end to Canada’s railway labour dispute, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a union gathering in Winnipeg Wednesday that his party is on the side of organized labour, and defended his government’s call for binding arbitration.
The Liberal leader was not taking any questions from reporters who were kept well away from Trudeau during a tightly controlled International Union of Operating Engineers meeting at the at the Fairmont Hotel.
He told the union members that he’d answer their questions about the government’s handling of the work stoppage following his 15-minute speech.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses the International Union Of Operating Engineers (IUOE) conference in Winnipeg on Wednesday.
When he finished speaking and the question-and-answer session started, news media were ordered out of the conference room.
The prime minister is in Winnipeg ahead of the Sept. 16 byelection in Elmwood-Transcona, where he was to make an appearance with Liberal candidate Ian MacIntyre. The Liberals are considered a long shot in the riding formerly held by the NDP and, briefly, by the Conservatives.
The Elmwood-Transcona seat was vacated by NDP MP Daniel Blaikie who resigned several months ago to work as an adviser to Premier Wab Kinew.
Trudeau didn’t mention the byelection in his speech to the union members, who gave him a standing ovation when he was introduced by federal Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon.
All four Manitoba Liberal MPs were in attendance, including Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, who openly criticized Trudeau’s Senate appointment of right-wing commentator and columnist Charles Adler.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called for Trudeau to rescind Adler’s appointment, saying he’s made vulgar, racist, derogatory comments about Indigenous people.
Adler reached out to the AMC, requesting a meeting.
Although Trudeau and Vandal weren’t talking to reporters Wednesday, Ben Carr, the newest member of the Manitoba Liberal caucus, said that while he was “concerned” about things Adler has said in the past, he is “pleased” about the request to meet with Indigenous leaders.
“I hope that a meaningful conversation can take place between himself and the leaders and grassroots members of Indigenous communities because the work that he will undertake in the Senate on their behalf is critical to the advancement of our communities and our society as a whole,” said Carr (Winnipeg South Centre).
As for the railway labour dispute, Trudeau said it was “deeply unhelpful for Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to lock out workers after contract talks stalled.
The government “reluctantly” requested binding arbitration as the work stoppage threatened the economy and supplies of important goods, he said.
Trudeau also touted his government’s moves on labour issues, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes, which garnered applause from the audience.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents railway workers, has blasted the government’s actions, accusing it of taking bargaining rights from workers.
— With files from Canadian Press
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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