• N.S. NDP remove party whip following post about France protests

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-21 22:41:28.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Governance, Labour, Justice]

  The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party removed MLA Paul Wozney from his role as party whip following a social media post in which he called for France-style civil unrest to oppose government legislation. Wozney's comments were made in response to a legal remedy concerning Bill 148, the Public Services Sustainability (2015) Act, which was previously ruled unconstitutional by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. NDP Leader Claudia Chender condemned the remarks as careless and affirmed that the party unequivocally denounces violence or suggestions of violence in civic life.

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• Proposed remedy for workers affected by Bill 148 could cost N.S. $470 million

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-19 20:15:49.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Labour, Finance, Justice, Governance]

  The Nova Scotia government has agreed to pay an estimated $470 million in compensation to roughly 81,000 public sector employees following a court ruling on Bill 148. Introduced in December 2015 by the former Liberal government and enacted in 2017, the legislation imposed four-year wage restrictions and eliminated long-term service awards. In February, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Ann Smith ruled that Bill 148 infringed upon public servants' Charter rights, ordering a legal remedy. Nova Scotia Minister of Finance John Lohr stated that the $470 million settlement cost is reflected in the 2025–26 provincial budget, though Justice Smith must still give final sign-off on the proposed remedy.

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• Carney says Labour Code change will 'protect' right to strike. Experts say it still spells legal trouble

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-23 17:02:26.0
  Tags: [National, Labour, Governance, Justice]

  The federal Liberal government introduced Bill C-39, an omnibus legislative package containing proposed amendments to Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which empowers the minister to order striking workers back to work and mandate binding arbitration in federally regulated industries such as airlines, banks, ports, and railways. Under the proposed changes, the labour minister must declare that a strike adversely affects the national interest and consider a report from a new special mediator before intervening. Prime Minister Mark Carney defended the legislation as a guardrail that protects the constitutional right to strike, whereas labour groups including the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)—which represents Air Canada flight attendants involved in previous Section 107 disputes—argue the provisions violate Charter-protected freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, setting the stage for ongoing constitutional challenges.

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