Canadian government under pressure to end rail strike

Pressure mounted Friday on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to end a strike that has effectively shut down Canada’s largest rail network, dragging on an already slowing economy.

The Teamsters union representing more than 3,000 train operators and railyard workers said there had been “no substantive progress” in talks aimed at ending the walkout at Canadian National Railway, which is on its fourth day.

“It’s absolutely critical to get the trains moving again,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after meeting Trudeau in Ottawa.

Some 170,000 barrels of oil destined for refineries and ports for export have been stranded, along with propane used to run farm equipment to dry grains that would otherwise spoil.

In Montreal, where the workers and management are holding talks, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said he was “seized with the severity of this situation.”