Mail could resume soon as feds ask labour board to intervene in Canada Post strike [Video]

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 — if the board determines a deal isn’t 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.

“We’re calling a time out,” MacKinnon told a news conference in Ottawa.

“Suffice to say positions appeared to have hardened and it became clear to me we were in a …