PORT VOTE DEADLINE — Today may be the end of the rollercoaster ride of the labor dispute between thousands of B.C. port workers and their employers. Dockworkers are heading into their final day of voting on whether to ratify the latest agreement, with billions in trade hanging in the balance. Earlier this week, the Canada Industrial Relations Board imposed today as a final deadline for the union. Voting takes place until 6 p.m. local time. — How it plays out: Some signs suggest the conflict will pass with an anticlimactic end. But if the vote fails, the prospect of federal involvement immediately returns. There would be two days for both parties to make submissions to the CIRB, and another two for responses. MARK THOMPSON, professor emeritus at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, said the whole saga has been “very unusual.” There hadn’t been a big labor dispute at the port in so long, it was almost like the parties involved were “rusty” on how to go about resolving it. “This time, the way that the government has set things up, they [the workers] don't have much of a choice.” — Doesn’t end here: While today could spell the end of this particular story, labor relations in Canada appear to be trending toward more events like this one. Just look around. There’s the Metro strike in Toronto and the recently resolved Windsor Salt strike. “I think we're probably in for a period of unrest,” Thompson said. “The whole labor market was kind of turned on his head during the pandemic. People quit their jobs and there's still shortages of labor. Unemployment is very low. So things are on the workers’ side for the first time in a while and inflation is very disruptive of labor relations.” STICKING POINT REVEALED — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH spilled the beans on one item his party has been pushing for in backroom negotiations of a public inquiry into foreign interference: including countries other than China. Answering questions from reporters at an event about rent affordability in Halifax, he said his party has been urging the Liberals and Conservatives to also factor in Russia, India and Iran. “The other parties haven't been clear on their stance about including other countries. Some of them have been resistant,” he said. “We've been saying that it should include any major country that's involved in or engaged in any allegations of interference.” But CP’s Mickey Djuric reports the Conservative Party has indicated terms for an inquiry have already been worked out. That leaves a big question around names for who could lead it. — Sympathy extended: Singh — the only federal leader to make a media appearance Thursday — said he has also reached out to JUSTIN TRUDEAU about the prime minister’s surprise separation from SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU. “Any family that’s gone through a separation can recall the really difficult time that is. And of course it's even more difficult if it's in the public eye, and it's important to acknowledge how that's going to impact the kids. And so I want to respect all those things, respect their ask for privacy and I’ve reached out just to express my sympathy for what's going on.” Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Click here to sign up for your own edition. It’s free!
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