|
CEOs and business leaders in the weekly Financial Post/COMPAS web-panel were asked for their views about the trucker strike at the Port of Vancouver. A record number of panellists chose not to participate in the survey, a significant number volunteering that they had not followed the issue closely enough to feel comfortable offering an opinion.
Those who did participate felt very comfortable offering opinions. The main conclusions from this survey, sponsored by BDO Dunwoody LLP and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are that
- The Martin Government earns a decidedly failing grade with most respondents feeling that its involvement is overdue,
- The strike will hurt the economy as a whole with the main impact being felt by the Port itself, the lower mainland, retailers, and exporters,
- The truckers themselves are most to blame—partly for resorting to intimidation and partly for wanting the bargaining rights of unionized workers as well as the business rights of self-employed entrepreneurs,
- While blameworthy for non-involvement, Ottawa is not especially blameworthy for not having offered truckers relief from fuel taxes,
- The Port should be treated as an essential or semi-essential service with limited rights to strike available to truckers.
|
