08:19 AM EST, 11/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The shutdown of British Columbia's (BC) ports will negatively impact many small- and medium-sized businesses (SME) across the country, said the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on Monday.

Just last year, the labor union paralyzed all BC ports, including Canada's biggest port, for 13 days, affecting small businesses, their customers and trade partners, and leaving them to deal with the strike's devastating consequences for months, stated CFIB.

This work stoppage comes at the very same time as longshoremen at the Port of Montreal are also on strike. Canada's economy and its SMEs need to be protected from these events that have been occurring way too often in recent years, it added.

The Canadian federal government must ensure BC ports remain fully operational during the current negotiation, according to CFIB. Small businesses cannot bear the cost of another long strike or lockout. CFIB continues to call on the government to make ports an essential service, so they remain operational at all times.