Canadian government sets up task force to avoid future port strife

Canadian government sets up task force to avoid future port strife    Startled by the recent truckers strike at the port of Vancouver, the Canadian government has established a three-man task force to recommend a long-term industrial relations strategy to ensure the efficient movement of containers in its regional and national transportation network.
   The task force was established in collaboration between the Federal Ministers of Labor and Housing and Industry and the Province of British Columbia.
   Task force members are Ken Dobell, Randy Morriss and Eric Harris. Vince Ready, who was involved in the resolution of the recent dispute, will serve as special advisor to the task force.
   Dobell recently served as deputy minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary of British Columbia, and is a special advisor in the Premier’s office. He has served as city manager of Vancouver and has also served as chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority.
   Morriss was most recently director general of port programs at Transport Canada.
   Harris is a founding partner of Harris & Co. and became a Queen’s counsel in 1997. He has also served on the Committee of Special Advisors to review issues surrounding the British Columbia Labor Code.
   “This task force was established to examine the functions, structure and relationships amongst various parties associated with the movement of containers into and out of ports in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia,” said Jean-C. Lapierre, Canada’s transport minister.
   The task force will submit its recommendations and a final report to Lapierre within the next three months. An interim report is expected within 45 days, Transport Canada said.