Canada on Tuesday moved to end labor disputes at the country's biggest ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, citing economic damage and the potential for driving away trading partners.

Canada’s Labor Minister Steven Mackinnon says he is intervening to end lockouts at the country’s two biggest ports after the negotiations reached an impasse.

Canada’s Labor Minister, Steven MacKinnon, has taken decisive action to end the recent labor disruptions affecting key ports in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Montreal. By invoking federal powers, MacKinnon has ordered binding arbitration between the labor unions and port owners,

Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon will brief media at 10 am Eastern Time (1500 GMT) on Tuesday about the status of disputes at the major ports of Vancouver and Montreal, his office said in a statement.