Trudeau: Conservative call for hard-line police action to end the protests would cause long term disruption

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government's approach to ending rail blockades across the country might cause economic pain in the short term.

But Trudeau told the House of Commons today the Conservative call for hard-line police action to end the protests would cause even more, longer term disruption.

Via Rail announced this afternoon that it is laying off close to one thousand employees, calling the disruption an unprecedented situation in its 42-year history.

CN Rail announced yesterday that it was laying off 450 of its employees.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is urging Trudeau to give the protesters an ultimatum to stand down within days or face co-ordinated police operations.