Government expected to introduce economic bill as critics warn of risks to workers’ rights

Members of Parliament return from their summer break Monday, when the federal government is expected to introduce a wide-ranging bill it says will make the economy more resilient. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu and Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc are scheduled to hold a joint news conference after the bill is tabled.

Hajdu said Saturday that the bill is intended to reduce how often Ottawa intervenes in collective bargaining. MacKinnon said its aim is to make labour agreements easier to reach. He told CBC News that there are too many lockouts, strikes and threats of job action, which he said harm investment and employment.

Labour leaders, including the heads of Unifor and the Canadian Labour Congress, say measures restricting workers’ ability to strike would weaken their rights and bargaining power. They are concerned the legislation could codify the government’s use of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end strikes when a dispute is deemed to threaten the national economic interest. Ottawa has used the contested provision in recent years to halt strikes in rail, port and other sectors, prompting ongoing court challenges.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is also expected to introduce legislation extending the excise-tax break on fuel and is preparing a fall budget. The Liberals retain a majority after gaining three new MPs following a series of byelections last month. Six seats are vacant and will require byelections in coming months; they were previously held by the Liberals, Conservatives, Bloc Québécois and NDP.

Trade tensions with the United States are expected to dominate the fall sitting. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened additional tariffs on steel and autos if the countries cannot reach an agreement by year-end. Canada’s negotiating team withdrew from a potential White House deal in August, saying it would have been a bad deal for Canada. The conflict then escalated as the United States imposed more tariffs and Canada brought in counter-tariffs.

Carney has been travelling internationally to deepen ties with countries beyond the United States and attract investment. He told the Liberal caucus Friday that the government plans to introduce several consequential bills this session. He is scheduled to attend question period Monday before travelling to New York for United Nations meetings this week; he is not scheduled to address the General Assembly and is expected to attend several summits this fall.