Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu stated that the federal government will not interfere with workers’ right to strike, despite considering legal changes to improve labour relations. Following months of consultations this spring and summer, feedback indicated unions strongly oppose any measure limiting their right to strike, while employers argue for government intervention in critical national interest cases. Hajdu emphasized a need for better tools to maintain industrial peace without infringing on workers' rights, though she did not specify if new legislation will be introduced in the upcoming parliamentary session starting Monday.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Jobs Minister, stated that the federal government will not interfere with workers’ right to strike despite considering legal changes to improve labour relations. The minister emphasized that upcoming legislation aims to reduce the number of times the government has to intervene in strikes under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. This section allows Ottawa to refer disputes to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, a measure employers and unions have differing views on. While most employers advocate for greater federal power to intervene during labour disruptions that could harm national interests, unions argue against any measures that might compromise their right to strike. Hajdu added that government intervention is a last resort and encouraged parties to resolve issues themselves at the negotiating table. The proposed amendments include introducing a special mediator role who will document arguments in acrimonious negotiations and publish reports identifying sticking points.
Written for “Canada Labour Law Changes” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 23 other(s) covering the same event.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu says the federal government will not interfere with workers’ right to strike as Ottawa considers legal changes to improve labour relations.
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Ottawa → say → relations
Ms. Hajdu’s department held months of consultations with unions, employers and other stakeholders over the spring and summer about the state of the Canada Labour Code.
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department → hold → Code
Feedback from those sessions is meant to inform future legislation.
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Feedback → mean → legislation
A report summarizing what the government heard during that review found that unions and employers were split over the degree of power Ottawa should have to intervene in disputes.
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Ottawa → summarize → disputes
Most employers argued the government should have the ability to step in to quash a labour action when Canada’s national interests are at risk.
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interests → argue → risk
Unions were staunchly opposed to any measure that could threaten their right to strike.
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that → oppose → right
Ms. Hajdu was asked Friday in Ottawa whether she would respect unions’ concerns.
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she → ask → concerns
She said the government heard in the review that Canada needs a stronger labour regime to foster better relationships between workers and employers.
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Canada → say → workers
The focus of the review was to find new supports for both parties, with an eye to leveraging the federal mediation service to maintain industrial peace.
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focus → find → peace
“I can stand here and say that we will never interfere with a worker’s right to bargain or to strike, but we do all agree that there are circumstances where better tools are needed,” Ms. Hajdu said.
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Hajdu → stand → right
The minister would not say whether legislation to change the Canada Labour Code will come in the fall session of Parliament, which is set to begin Monday.
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which → say → Parliament
Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske said in a media statement that the government’s labour review report did reflect what unions told Ottawa about its priorities.
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unions → say → priorities
“Canada needs stronger labour laws that protect the right to strike, support free collective bargaining and hold employers accountable when they break the rules,” Ms. Bruske said.
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Bruske → need → rules
A Senate committee report published in June argued that labour disruptions in critical industries like transportation can harm Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner at a time when Ottawa is trying to diversify its trade beyond the United States.
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Ottawa → publish → States
Ms. Bruske said in her statement that worker protections, decent wages and collective bargaining are critical to making Canada’s economy more resilient in the face of U.S. trade aggression.
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economy → say → aggression
Ms. Hajdu was at Algonquin College on Friday to explain the federal government’s plan to get young workers paid, on-the-job experience in the skilled trades.
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workers → explain → trades
Starting early next year, young Canadians will be able to access paid job placements for up to four months, giving them hands-on experience before beginning an apprenticeship.
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Canadians → start → apprenticeship
The $880-million in funding for that program comes from a bigger pot of $8-billion the Liberals have set aside since the spring economic update to promote the skilled trades across Canada.
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Liberals → come → Canada
The federal government has stressed the importance of recruiting and training a new generation of skilled tradespeople, such as carpenters, electricians and welders.
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government → stress → carpenters
Later this fall, any tradesperson who has completed an apprenticeship and earned a certification in a Red Seal trade since April, 2025, will also receive a $5,000 bonus.
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who → complete → bonus
The federal government will roll out a program over the fall to help small- and medium-sized businesses offer more apprenticeships and Ottawa also plans to top up employment insurance payments for apprentices during training starting next spring.
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Ottawa → roll → training
The Aporia
