Overview
- The Department of Jobs and Families has launched a second, narrower round of consultations this summer to probe options for limiting or replacing Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which lets the minister refer deadlocked bargaining disputes to the Canada Industrial Relations Board for possible binding arbitration.
- Spring consultations showed deep division between employers who want tools to avoid major stoppages and unions who fear any change could weaken collective bargaining and the Charter-protected right to strike.
- Stakeholders told the government it should spell out clear criteria, give parties advance notice and increase transparency about when the minister would intervene, and Ottawa says it will consider alternatives during the review.
- The review will also cover related fixes such as faster grievance arbitration, measures against bad-faith bargaining and wage theft, and protections for workers seeking first collective agreements, reflecting broader concerns about AI, automation and workplace safety.
- No legislative timetable has been set and the department will produce a report summarizing feedback before any bill is tabled, with senators and industry warning that unresolved disruptions like the 2024 rail shutdowns risk Canada’s trade reliability.