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Quebec has already begun rationing its remaining propane reserve of 12 million litres and is trying find trucks to bring more of the fuel into the province, Legault said. Daily usage has been cut to 2.5 million litres from a typical six million litres.

The reserve will go to hospitals and retirement homes first, as well farmers who depend on propane to dry grains and heat facilities.

Photo by Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images files

Talks with CN representatives were ongoing, Teamsters spokesperson Christopher Monette said Thursday afternoon. However “no progress” has been made on any of the union’s concerns about long hours and dangerous working conditions due to fatigue, he said.

Transportation Minister Marc Garneau, who previously urged the parties to continue negotiations, met with ministerial colleagues yesterday to discuss how to further address the issue, the ministry said in an emailed statement.

Petroleum producers, miners, chemical firms and steelmakers are among those who have warned of severe supply-chain disruption and economic damage should the strike carry on.

We have customers asking 'Am I going to have propane to heat my home or to supply the facility I'm running, whether it's a hospital or a water treatment plant?' Nathalie St-Pierre, CEO, Canadian Propane Association

About 92 per cent of Canada’s propane is extracted from natural gas plants in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. With no pipelines to carry the fuel into Quebec, the province is particularly reliant on rail transportation from supply hubs in the Prairies and in Sarnia, Ont., said Nathalie St-Pierre, chief executive of the Canadian Propane Association.

“We’re very concerned with the stoppage when it comes to the farmers,” she said. “We also have customers calling and asking ‘Am I going to have propane to heat my home or to supply the facility I’m running, whether it’s a hospital or a water treatment plant?’ ”