BC Port dispute costing Canada's pork sector millions...Ottawa urged to bring in back to work legislation

Jul 21, 2023

The Keystone Agricultural Producers and Manitoba Pork say the strike is of grave concern to the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector and are urging the federal government for immediate intervention.

The two groups saying we need to see back-to-work legislation to end the strike.

The ICLU and BCMEA had reached a tentative agreement, which was later voted down by the ILWU caucus which then issued a 72-hour strike notice for Saturday.

That was later rescinded but the industry remains on edge as to what will happen next.

KAP general manager Brenna Mahoney highlighted the urgency of the situation.

"The ongoing labor dispute is severely affecting our ability to get our agricultural products to global markets. We are already witnessing the negative consequences on our reputation as a reliable supplier. This is costing both farmers and our value-added processors. Jobs in every region of Manitoba will be impacted."

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Video: CEOs of the Industry, A Conversation with Daniel Rivest, President & CEO, Olymel

Swine Web’s CEOs of the Industry series welcomes Daniel Rivest, President & CEO of Olymel, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, the future of Canadian pork, and the opportunities ahead for one of North America’s largest pork and poultry processors.

Rivest discusses his journey to the CEO role, his leadership philosophy, and his early priorities at Olymel. The conversation explores the company’s strategic direction, its relationships with producers, and how Olymel is positioning itself for long-term growth and competitiveness.

The discussion also tackles some of the biggest issues facing Canadian pork production today, including labor availability, global competition, animal health, trade and export markets, automation, and the growing potential of artificial intelligence throughout the food production system.

Topics include:

• Daniel Rivest’s path to becoming President & CEO of Olymel

• Olymel’s current position and strategic direction

• The outlook for Canadian pork production

• Building stronger relationships with producers

• Global trade and key export markets

• Automation, innovation and artificial intelligence

• Leadership lessons and opportunities for the next generation

The conversation concludes with a Fast Five, giving viewers a more personal look at Rivest’s leadership approach and his vision for Olymel’s future.