Work remains suspended in government offices in Canada, immigration services hit

Ottawa: In Canada, the treasury, taxes, government payments, passports, immigration, etc. offices remained deserted today due to the strike by government employees over salary hikes and other demands. Although the government has said that 48,000 workers will continue to work under essential services, but with only 1,400 of canada’s financial agency’s 35,000 workers under essential service, the country’s people may face major difficulties in the coming days.
The employees’ union has been in talks with the government for an increase in salaries for the last one year, but this demand has not been met yet. Due to this, more than 1.5 lakh workers have been on strike since Wednesday. The last date for filing income tax returns for the last financial year is only 10 days away. During this period, the lives of 43 lakh people will be affected due to dependence on payment after the month. 
Piles of files are piling up in passport offices that are on its toes after two years and the revenue collection system could also mess up. On the other hand, the opposition parties have surrounded the government in Parliament over the strike. Although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained the government’s efforts to pacify the opposition, he refrained from using harsh words against the striking employees. He said talks were on with the government’s middlemen and union leaders and some meaningful solution would emerge soon.
Trudeau said the strike would not have much of an impact. Leader of the Opposition Pierre Polyver questioned that preparations for the strike had been going on for four months and why did the government sleep for so long? Ndp leader Jagmeet Singh, who is supporting the government, also did not take note of the government. The union leaders said they were demanding a 13.5 per cent hike in wages in three years in line with the rising 13 per cent inflation, but the government was adamant on giving a 9 per cent hike in three annual instalments.