The federal government introduced a new bill on the first day of the fall sitting in the House of Commons, aiming to speed up approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects while making changes to the Canada Labour Code.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sept. 21, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said stable labour relations are essential to economic growth, arguing that workers and employers are more likely to invest in the future when workplace relationships are strong and predictable.
“It’s intuitively what companies and workers know. When the relationship is stable, companies and their workers have the confidence to invest, to grow, and to expand,” Hajdu said.
The proposed legislation is intended to streamline project approvals and provide greater certainty for businesses looking to invest in Canada.
However, labour leaders are voicing concerns about the labour code provisions, warning the changes could undermine collective bargaining rights and weaken workers’ ability to strike. Unions say they will be closely examining the legislation as it moves through Parliament.
Days before the house sitting on Sept. 10, Canada Labour Congress (CLC) President Bea Bruske said in a statement that the country “needs stronger labour laws that protect the right to strike, support free collective bargaining, and hold employers accountable when they break the rules.”
