They will examine the issues underlying long-shoring labour disputes at the ports
Minister of Labour Seamus O'Regan Jr. has announced the appointment of Vincent Ready and Amanda Rogers to the Industrial Inquiry Commission, which will examine and resolve the issues underlying long-shoring labour disputes at Canada's West Coast ports.
The appointed Commission will be chaired by Vincent L. Ready, mediator and arbitrator with extensive experience in labour relations across Canada. Workplace dispute resolution expert Amanda Rogers will serve as a member of the Commission. The team will start its activities by engaging with stakeholders and reviewing consultation submissions, aiming to present their findings and recommendations by spring 2025.
Vincent Ready's career in labour relations began in 1965, and since 1982, he has mediated or arbitrated over 7,000 labour and commercial disputes nationwide. His contributions to the field have been recognized with awards such as the W.P. Kelly Award for Lifetime Achievement as a Labour Mediator and the Bora Laskin Award for contributions to Canadian labour law.
Amanda Rogers brings a wealth of experience as an arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer specializing in workplace disputes. Her prior roles have included serving as an Industrial Inquiry Commissioner for the British Columbia government and acting as an Independent Reviewer for the Government of Yukon. Rogers holds a BA and JD from the University of Toronto and an LLM in dispute resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School.
According to the Federal government, strikes and lockouts at the ports during the summer resulted in considerable economic impacts. Such disruptions underscore the need for long-term solutions to ensure that businesses and workers reliant on these ports are not adversely affected.
In August 2023, Minister O’Regan committed to initiating a process under s. 106 of the Canada Labour Code to examine the structural issues leading to these disputes. Following a preliminary review by industrial relations experts Anthony Giles and Kevin Banks in October 2023, it was determined that the West Coast ports required a focused investigation due to their unique challenges.
The establishment of the Commission is authorized under s. 108 of the Canada Labour Code. The government has also allocated $3.1 million over two years in Budget 2024 to support the labour program at Employment and Social Development Canada in carrying out this comprehensive review.
Minister O'Regan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "The workers and businesses that depend on our West Coast ports deserve long-term solutions. They deserve solutions that respect the collective bargaining process. They deserve stability and certainty in our supply chains."
