In the World Constructors' Championship Ferrari were leading with 68 points ahead of the McLaren squad in second on 63 points. Williams with 15 points were third and Benetton were fourth with 14 points, with Jordan fifth with 9 points. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Société de Transport de la Communauté Urbaine De Montréal (STCUM) announced that they would hold strikes over pension fund contributions during the Grand Prix weekend. STCUM chose those dates due to the event's high-profile status as public transport was classified as an essential service over the weekend. It would also result in the road leading to the circuit being blocked off to spectators. STCUM appeared before Essential Services Council on 9 June to discuss producing a contingency plan to ensure spectators would attend the Grand Prix with full services running. An agreement was reached on 13 June with 60 per cent of transport workers voting in favour of improved pay and pension, allowing the race to go unaffected. Following the on 4 June, the teams conducted testing sessions at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza between 6 and 8 June to prepare for the Canadian Grand Prix. Barrichello set the first day's fastest times, ahead of McLaren test driver Olivier Panis. Testing was halted when Prost's Nick Heidfeld and Luciano Burti both experienced engine and electronic failures respectively. Häkkinen was fastest on the second day. BAR driver Ricardo Zonta lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers at the Parabolica corner, limiting his testing time as repairs were made to his car. Jenson Button for Williams was quickest on the third day. Ferrari undertook additional testing at their private facility, the Fiorano Circuit, with their test driver Luca Badoer who performed practice pit stops and starts, utilising different car set-ups, testing new car components and ran on an artificially wet track. There were eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) of two drivers each entered for the event. Ralf Schumacher was passed fit in the days leading up to the race. At the previous race, he had suffered a serious crash at the Sainte Devote corner and he sustained a three-inch gash on his left calf which required stitches. The Williams team had their test driver Bruno Junqueira ready to replace Ralf Schumacher should the latter have been not ready to race. Ralf Schumacher said that he would decide after the