Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the hon. member's question concerning the recent dispute on the west coast between the British Columbia Maritime Employer's Association and the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union.
The West Coast Ports Operations Act, 1994, passed by Parliament on February 8 and given royal assent the same day, called for the immediate resumption of longshoring operations on Canada's west coast upon the coming into force of the act and provided for the final settlement of those items remaining in dispute between the parties by the final offer selection process.
While disappointed at the inability of the parties to resolve their dispute through collective bargaining, the Minister of Human Resources Development did not hesitate to act in the public interest and take measures to ensure the resumption of important export shipments through the west coast ports.
During the House debates on Bill C-10 the minister committed to consulting members of the opposition parties regarding the selection of an arbitrator. I am pleased that members of the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democratic Party supported Mr. Allan Hope's appointment as arbitrator.
Prior to the recent disruption there had been indications of reasons to hope that labour and management in the port of Vancouver had moved away from the dismal pattern of the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s when Parliament was forced to provide for resolution of their disputes. Settlements arrived at through the collective bargaining process in the two previous rounds gave some reason to believe that the pattern had changed and that the parties were entering a new era of constructive labour relations.
It is hoped that the current difficulties do not represent a reversion to previous form and that the parties will endeavour in future to find better ways of resolving their differences. The competitive future of our west coast ports and consequently the livelihood of those involved in the longshoring industry relies on their ability to approach the bargaining relationship in a spirit of common interest.
Reports from the west coast indicate that grain shipments are being loaded at a brisk pace in order to fill outstanding export commitments. While it is unfortunate that export commodities were impacted upon by the work stoppage, the government realized that through co-operative initiatives such as the Vancouver Ports Corporation stakeholders conference and the government's involvement with the western grain storage and handling industry, solutions can be found to industry concerns which will allow for improved relations between the parties and the fast, efficient movement of export commodities through the west coast ports.