Doubling Exports Requires Labour Stability

Stable labour frameworks are critical to ensuring Canada can deliver its national priorities such as trade diversification, investing in sovereignty, and economic growth. This is underscored by record cargo volumes handled through the Port of Vancouver in 2025, which moved 170.4 million metric tonnes of cargo, an 8% increase over the previous record.

Labour disruptions in federally regulated sectors, including ports, rail, and air transportation, have system-wide consequences in Canada. Even brief disruptions can have immediate and outsized impacts on exporters, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and communities, with significant economic consequences. The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Port Strike Calculator illustrates the scale of these risks, showing that approximately $800 million in goods is disrupted every single day a port shutdown persists, with impacts compounding as supply chains backlog. Each day of disruption can amount to weeks of recovery.

GVBOT believes that the best and most durable labour deals are made at the bargaining table. However, there have been many instances where nationally significant transportation and trade networks have been shut down due to the parties’ inability to reach a deal. We believe that the federal government needs a full suite of tools to support and enable successful outcomes in the national interest.

Given this, GVBOT sent a letter to The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, and The Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State for Labour, with the following recommendations as part of the Building Canada Strong for All Labour Consultation. Read our letter and recommendations here.