Mail could begin moving again in Canada as early as next week after the federal government moved Friday to end the nearly month-long work stoppage at Canada Post.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon referred the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, with the aim of ordering the nearly 55,000 workers back to work and extending their current contract until May 22, 2025 91裸聊视频� if the board determines a deal isn91裸聊视频檛 within reach before the end of the year.

In the meantime, MacKinnon said he will appoint an industrial inquiry commission to look into the bargaining issues and come up with recommendations by May 15 on how a new agreement can be reached.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e calling a time out,91裸聊视频� MacKinnon told a news conference in Ottawa.

91裸聊视频淪uffice to say positions appeared to have hardened and it became clear to me we were in a total impasse.91裸聊视频�

A federally appointed mediator withdrew themselves two weeks ago, saying at the time the two sides were too far apart to make a deal.

MacKinnon said since then, the negotiations have been 91裸聊视频済oing in the wrong direction.91裸聊视频�

Ottawa used section 107 of the Labour Code to make its move Friday, after using the same powers to intervene earlier this year in disputes at the country91裸聊视频檚 railways and ports, directing the board to order workers back to work and to order binding arbitration.

It91裸聊视频檚 a move that sparked legal challenges from the unions involved and that labour experts and advocates have said erodes workers91裸聊视频� bargaining rights.

This time, the government91裸聊视频檚 use of section 107 is 91裸聊视频渕ore restrained,91裸聊视频� said Alison Braley-Rattai, an associate professor of labour at Brock University.

Business groups have been calling on the government to intervene 91裸聊视频� though Canada Post did not. Up until Friday MacKinnon insisted intervention wasn91裸聊视频檛 in the cards.

But despite the wait, Braley-Rattai said she isn91裸聊视频檛 surprised the government ended up stepping in.

91裸聊视频淚t has been going on for a very long time,91裸聊视频� she said of the dispute.

MacKinnon called the decision a creative solution by not sending the matter directly to binding arbitration 91裸聊视频� as the government did in the disputes at the railways and ports.

He said this doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean a deal will be automatically in reach by May, but hoped the inquiry can show a path forward that works for both Canada Post and its workers.

91裸聊视频淭here are major structural changes in that industry that have to be accounted for,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭here are workers91裸聊视频� aspirations in that industry that have to be accounted for. Those have proved to be interests that are tough to reconcile. So I91裸聊视频檓 looking to try and triage those issues.91裸聊视频�

The postal workers91裸聊视频� union denounced the decision, calling it 91裸聊视频渁n assault91裸聊视频� on the right to collective bargaining.

91裸聊视频淭his order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions,91裸聊视频� the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a statement.

Canada Post workers who were gathered outside a delivery centre east of Toronto on Friday morning expressed mixed feelings about the news.

Striking worker Kirk Gonnsen said he feels workers were let down by Canada Post and the government, but he91裸聊视频檚 happy that workers struggling to pay their bills will be able to earn some money again.

Union member Denise Caster accused Canada Post of not being willing to engage in 91裸聊视频済ood faith91裸聊视频� talks.

91裸聊视频淚 want to get back to work, we all want to get back to work,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e were hoping to get back to work with a fair negotiated contract.91裸聊视频�

Canada Post said it91裸聊视频檚 reviewing the details of the announcement and that it looks forward to getting back to work.

It added its commitment has always been to reach negotiated agreements.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the move. It estimates small businesses have been losing a combined $100 million every day.

91裸聊视频淭his will be too late to salvage any of the Christmas holiday season for small businesses,91裸聊视频� CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement.

91裸聊视频淲ith a massive backlog, it will be nearly impossible for any new shipments to make it to Canadians before Christmas through Canada Post.91裸聊视频�

Kelly said the resumption of mail will help businesses waiting for cheque payments from customers. He said lack of mail delivery has made it hard for small businesses to pay their bills.

MacKinnon acknowledged the effect on small businesses and remote communities, as well as on passport deliveries, immigration paperwork, and health cards. He said there are 50,000 permanent resident cards yet to be mailed, 190,000 passports, and the Canada Revenue Agency is holding more than 1.65 million pieces of secure correspondence.

91裸聊视频� With files from Sharif Hassan in Toronto

Nick Murray and Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press