71(1)Notwithstanding any provision of this Act, the Minister may at any time appoint a person as a mediation officer when he is satisfied that the appointment of a mediation officer may bring about settlement of a dispute or prevent a dispute.

71(2)It shall be the function of a mediation officer appointed under this section to investigate the causes of an existing or potential dispute, to attempt to bring about a settlement of the dispute or to prevent the dispute, and to assist a trade union and employer in the development of effective labour-management relations.

71(3)When a mediation officer is unable to effect a settlement of the dispute and the Minister has not appointed a conciliation board or informed the parties that he does not deem it advisable to appoint a conciliation board, the mediation officer shall, at the direction of the Minister, make a report in accordance with section 61 and the report shall be deemed to be the report of a conciliation officer for the purposes of this Act.

71(4)A mediation officer appointed under this section shall have all of the powers of a mediator appointed under section 70.

71(5)A mediation officer appointed under this section shall make a report to the Minister, but, except as provided in subsection (3), the appointment of a mediation officer under this section does not affect any right to strike or lock-out.