The National Post reports in its Thursday edition that the Carney government's recent legislation designed to avoid crippling strikes in the transportation sector was an important response to a growing trend that had the potential to cause serious economic damage. The Post's Simon Tuck writes that a Montreal Economic Institute report out today says Ottawa is justified in stepping in when the two sides in a labour dispute are not "remotely close to reaching common ground" and millions Canadians are paying the price. The report cited recent lockouts at the ports of Montreal and Vancouver in 2024 and a labour strike a year later at Air Canada as examples of work stoppages that threatened major swaths of the Canadian economy and thousands of jobs. Airlines, ports and rail services are considered key parts of national infrastructure and are relied on by miners, manufacturers, farmers and many other economic sectors. In August, 2024, for example, the simultaneous shutdowns of rail services at CN and CPKC threatened the transport of about $1-billion of goods a day. The report added that these types of transport companies are different than most other employers and warrant unique legislation to help keep them in operation.