• Unions have new leverage, not less, under Liberals' new major projects bill: jobs minister

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-27 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Labour, Governance, Indigenous]

  The federal government introduced Bill C-39, an omnibus major projects bill proposing amendments to Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to place guardrails around back-to-work legislation. Under the proposed changes, the minister must appoint a special mediator for a 21-day period and consider a publicly released recommendations report before issuing an order based on the national interest. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu defended the legislation by arguing that public scrutiny of the mediator's report increases union leverage, though organized labour groups like the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Union of Public Employees strongly oppose the changes. Additionally, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse-Nepinak raised concerns over the bill's one-year timeline cap for federal project reviews, arguing it subordinates the honour of the Crown to commercial interests.

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• Carney government to study new major projects bill with tool last used in Harper era

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-25 20:34:29.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Economy, Labour, Governance, Indigenous]

  The federal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced Bill C-39, a 244-page omnibus bill titled the Building Canada Strong Act designed to fast-track major economic development projects and address labour disruptions across 24 different acts and regulations. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon announced that the bill will be referred to a specialized "legislative committee"—a parliamentary mechanism last used by the federal government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012 for Bill C-11. The legislation has drawn criticism from organized labour, environmental groups, and the Assembly of First Nations over proposed alterations to consultation practices, impact assessments, and the Canada Labour Code. While opposition parties intend to scrutinize the bill and propose amendments in committee, the governing Liberals hold a majority to pass the legislation in the House of Commons.

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• AFN chief warns Carney against 'abusing' majority to pass new major projects bill

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-22 18:30:50.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Labour, Indigenous, Governance]

  Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has warned Prime Minister Mark Carney against abusing majority government powers to pass Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act. The legislation shifts project reviews for major infrastructure such as pipelines and power transmission lines from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to the Canada Energy Regulator while also proposing amendments to the Canada Labour Code. The AFN chief criticized the federal government for limiting debate and consultations, stating that staff in the Alberta-based major projects office lack understanding of First Nations rights and demanding that leadership be permitted to bring forward legislative amendments.

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