Canadian Strike Highlights Growing Role of Trains in Shipping Oil

摘要

Ottawa has stepped in to end a week-long strike at Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) that has highlighted the growing amount of crude and refined products that normally is shipped by rail in Western Canada. The federal government introduced “back-to-work” legislation on Tuesday that requires the dispute to be settled by binding arbitration. Ottawa says the move was justified to prevent further damage to the Canadian economy. Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt recently claimed the strike would cost Canadians at least C$540 million (US$529 million) per week if it were allowed to continue.