OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and the Canadian Meat Council recently asked the country’s Minister of Transport on July 7 to provide the same protection to perishable agriculture products that grain receives during the ongoing British Columbia port strike.

Discussions began again over the weekend between the dock workers and their employers, but an agreement has yet to be reached. Workers went on strike on July 1.

“We are seeking the Minister’s assistance to ensure perishable agricultural products, and farmers, do not suffer undue hardship from this labor action, and we believe a precedent already established for wheat is available to our agricultural industries,” said Rene Roy, chair of the Canadian Pork Council.

Roy called on the government through the Minister to declare shipment of perishable food products essential due to their role in global food security and in Canada.

“As representatives of Canada’s pork sector, we’re asking the Minister to exercise his power as Minister to ensure these products continue to move through all Canadian ports,” he added.

CPC and Roy stated that the Canadian agriculture industry was challenged by a variety of issues in recent months. Still, this port strike would create millions of dollars in losses across agriculture very quickly, with processing plants shutting in the coming days.

“Worse, if our products go unsold, they will create an environmental disposal challenge and lead to enormous waste and environmental damage needlessly,” Roy said.

The trade association said the British Columbia port handles $1 billion of trade daily. If the strike continues, inflation will increase and Canadians will be impacted, with the impact on the agriculture sector being catastrophic.

“We do not produce hard goods that can sit on a dock for days and weeks,” Roy said. “Our products need to move, markets that are counting on our products will move on to other suppliers if they can’t access our products so the losses will become long-term.”