July 12, 2024 – The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) informed CPKC and CN today that it intends to issue its decision regarding the Ministerial Referral on the maintenance of activities by Friday, August 9. The CIRB will issue the decision without holding oral hearings. This development helps provide some predictability regarding the timelines for a potential work stoppage because the parties cannot legally take strike or lockout action prior to the CIRB issuing its decision and must then provide a minimum of 72 hours’ notice. The railways have asked the CIRB to extend the cooling-off period by 30 days and has proposed to the union that the parties resolve this labour dispute through binding arbitration. In summary, this means that the earliest a strike may happen is the 2nd week of August. Canaan Transport will be doing our best to mitigate any delays if a strike were to occur.