Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said on Tuesday he had directed the country's labor relations board to order an end to disputes at the ports of Vancouver and Montreal, citing the economic damage inflicted.

Canada ordered striking dock workers back to the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Montreal on Tuesday to clear out more than a week of container congestion bound for the United States and Canada.

Workers are locked out at Canada’s two biggest ports on Monday, after Montreal longshore employees rejected a contract with their employers group on Sunday night. Dock workers at British Columbia’s ports, including Vancouver, have been locked out since last Monday as employers push them to approve to a new collective agreement.

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

Canada’s Labor Minister ended labor battles at Vancouver and Montreal ports, the second time the Canadian government has recently forced unions back to work.

Canada’s labor minister said Tuesday he is intervening to end lockouts at the country’s two biggest ports. Labor Minister Steven Mackinnon said the negotiations have reached an impasse and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports and move the talks to binding arbitration.

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,