Overall, Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, is designed to “bring greater speed, certainty, and predictability to infrastructure project reviews, and support the workers who will build them,” a government backgrounder says.
Within the bill are multiple parts important to agriculture.
One is related to labour laws.
Specifically, thresholds around Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which provides the labour minister with authority to end labour disruptions.
“Bill C-39 establishes a clearer and more transparent framework for the use of these authorities in the exceptional circumstance of a labour dispute that threatens to have significant national impacts,” the government says.
Under C-39, the minister could invoke Section 107 powers after:
- a special mediator has been appointed and completed their mandate;
- the special mediator has submitted a public report to the Minister;
- the Minister has considered that report; and
- the Minister has formed the opinion that a strike or lockout would have a significant adverse national impact.