On the 29th day of the Canada Post Strike, Labour Minister Steve McKinnon has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order Canada Post and all of the employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to get back to work.

McKinnon believes the two sides have gotten further apart rather than closer to a contract agreement. He says the existing collective agreement would continue until May 22nd of next year.

An Industrial Inquiry Commission will be established, according to McKinnon, which will examine the structural issues preventing the resolution of the labour dispute and a report from the inquiry would be expected to be presented to the government by May 15th. McKinnon believes the review could provide the basis for a path forward. The inquiry will also examine the entire structure of Canada Post from both a customer and a business model standpoint, considering the challenging business environment now facing Canada Post.