Ottawa urges return to table after B.C. port dispute talks break down [Video]

The federal government is urging both sides in the British Columbia port dispute to return to the table after mediated talks broke off on Saturday, the first of three scheduled days.

A statement issued by the office of federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says both the port employers and the union representing more than 700 longshore supervisors “must understand the urgency of the situation.”

The statement urges both sides to “do the work necessary to reach an agreement,” adding that “Canadians are counting on them.”

The comments come after the latest round of mediated talks in Vancouver started and ended on Saturday without a deal, despite up to three days of mediation being on the table, with no further negotiations scheduled to end a lockout that started last Monday.

Container terminals across B.C. were locked by employers in what they call a defensive action after workers started strike activity, while the union — International Longshore …