OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet got down to work Thursday as the government faced mounting pressure to reconvene Parliament and end a strike by CN rail workers that premiers warn is already exacting a sharp economic toll.Trudeau held his first meeting with his ministers a day after they were sworn in during the Rideau Hall ceremony with an agenda to tackle climate change and improve affordability.But it was mounting worries of backed-up rail shipments nationwide and calls for federal action that demanded their attention Thursday. Some 3,200 employees who work as train conductors and rail yard co-ordinators, represented by Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference union, walked off the job Tuesday. Industries were quick to warn about the knock-on effect of being unable to ship goods by rail.Alberta’s energy minister and two cabinet colleagues wrote to the federal ministers of agriculture, transport and natural resources, urging them to immediately recall Parliament to introduce emergency back-to-work legislation for CN rail workers. Waiting until the scheduled return of Parliament on Dec. 5 “would have devastating impacts on the Canadian economy,” warned the Alberta ministers, noting that CN Rail ships some 170,000 barrels of oil a day from Western Canada.Quebec Premier François Legault added his voice Wednesday, saying his province would run out of propane in days unless rail service is restored.Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has also called on Ottawa to take quick action to end the labour dispute and minimize the economic impact on provincial exports, notably potash and grain. The concern for the Trudeau government goes beyond economics. A rail strike that undercuts the economic performance of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec — the very provinces that Trudeau has said need special attention from his government — is a political problem, too.Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the Liberal government recognizes that the ...
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