The biggest rail strike ever in Canada is badly affecting the transport of goods for export and affecting the economy as a whole.
Canada relies on the Railway to move products like crops, oil, potash, coal and other manufactured goods to ports of export and to the United States. About half of Canada’s exports move by rail, and economists estimate that a prolonged strike would be detrimental to economic growth.
The strike caused at least 35 vessels to be left waiting at Canada’s West Coast to load grain shipments.
Shipments from the major grain handling ports on the West Coast supply exports to international markets, including Asia.