Article content

OTTAWA — A key body tasked with helping the federal government decide whether and how to impose marijuana testing for workers finds itself at an impasse, ensuring no new federal rules on workplace impairment will be in place before pot becomes legal later this year.

The committee, comprising federally regulated employers, labour groups and federal officials, finds itself split over the issue of drug testing for jobs where impairment could pose a threat to public safety.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Marijuana testing committee split over proposal delaying Liberals passing any workplace pot policy Back to video

A number of committee members say that means the Liberal government likely won’t have time to address a number of requests from employers, who want rules put in place for “safety-sensitive” jobs, such as transit drivers, that would allow employers to legally conduct random drug tests.

There are currently no federal labour rules about drug and alcohol testing outside the military, but it is permissible in some circumstances when the union approves the policy and an employer can show evidence of a general substance abuse problem that poses a risk.