Area politicians are calling for an end to the CN Rail strike that entered its fourth day Friday.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said it's in the national interest to resolve the dispute, because it's impacting the petrochemical industry, as well as agriculture and other sectors that rely on rail to keep the economy and companies going.
"I'm briefed every day by CN and by the union on what's occurring," said Bradley. "It has tremendous local impact, it also has tremendous national impact when we are finding out that the province of Quebec is running out of propane and only has a three or four day supply left and that propane is coming out of this community."
Sarnia-Lambton Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu said area farmers told her Friday morning that they've been served notice that their propane supply had been cut off.
"This puts them in an immediate loss situation, because they have wet crops that they can't dry and their only option is to try to drive to Chatham-Kent, which means they need transport trailers, they're going to pay costs to use natural gas dryers there," said Gladu. "So, the farmers are suffering and this is going to escalate."
Gladu said many farmers also heat their animal barns and houses with propane.
She said the official opposition is insisting the government return to parliament ahead of the December 5 resumption date to legislate CN employees back to work.
About 3,200 conductors, train personnel and yard workers, including 165 in Sarnia, walked off the job Tuesday after the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and the company failed to reach a contract agreement.
When asked if they've been contacted by anyone in the United States with concerns, both Gladu and Bradley said "no."