Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has put an end to the work stoppages at Quebec and British Columbia ports by ordering binding and final arbitration. MacKinnon said on Tuesday the negotiations had hit an impasse and the economic and reputational damage to Canada as a reliable trade partner was in jeopardy.

OTTAWA — Canada’s labor minister has ordered port employees back to work in British Columbia and Quebec after negotiations between unions and terminal operators reach an impasse. “I have directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order that all operations and duties at the ports resume and to assist the parties to settle their collective

Canada’s labor minister said Tuesday he is intervening to end lockouts at the country’s two biggest ports. Labor Minister Steven Mackinnon said the negotiations have reached an impasse and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports and move the talks to binding arbitration.