Federal Labour Minister Rona Ambrose has ruled out legislating striking OC Transpo employees back to work.
Ambrose made the statement while leaving a Conservative caucus meeting on Parliament Hill yesterday, saying there was no appetite for this legislation.
“The minister’s position is the same as it has always been,” said press secretary Lynn Meahan.
“The quickest way for buses to get back on the street is for both of these parties to get back to the table and come up with a negotiated agreement.”
Since OC Transpo operates in two provinces, it would be up to the federal government to legislate employees back to work as an essential service.
However, city clerk and solicitor Rick O’Connor said the transit strike does not meet the federal government’s legal requirement of posing “an immediate and serious danger to the safety or health of the public.”
