The Liberal government is planning to amend the Canada Labour Code to give the minister explicit authority to end strikes and order arbitration, according to two senior government sources speaking to CBC News. This proposed change to Section 107 of the Labour Code aims to increase private sector confidence by ensuring Canada remains a secure place for investment, particularly in industries crucial for exports like ports and railways. The legislation, part of the upcoming Building Canada Strong Act, will also include provisions for trade corridors and faster federal project approvals. Unions have criticized past use of this section as heavy-handed and argue it undermines workers' rights.
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.
Liberals looking to give minister explicit authority to end strikes: sources
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Liberals → look → strikes
Government criticized in past for using existing Labour Code authority to force arbitration
The Liberal government's marquee fall legislation is expected to strengthen a controversial section of the Labour Code, two senior government sources tell CBC News.
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sources → criticize → News
The Carney government plans to amend the Canada Labour Code to explicitly allow the minister responsible to direct the Canada Industrial Labour Relations Board (CIRB) to end work stoppages and order arbitration.
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minister → plan → arbitration
Changes to Section 107 of the Labour Code are expected to be part of the Carney government's bill, set to be called the Building Canada Strong Act and tabled next week.
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Changes → expect → bill
"We will have very significant economic legislation as a centrepiece of this session," said Government House leader Steve MacKinnon on Friday ahead of a two-day Liberal caucus retreat.
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MacKinnon → have → retreat
The changes to Section 107 will codify a power the government already has and uses: the ability to end a strike and take over arbitration of a labour dispute by directing it to the CIRB.
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government → codify → CIRB
However, sources say writing it into law could increase private sector confidence, as Ottawa seeks to reassure that Canada is a safe place to invest.
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Canada → say → confidence
The sources say the focus is on "high-potential disruptive labour issues" in industries that have serious implications for Canada's exports, like ports and railways.
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that → say → ports
Two senior government sources shared some details of the legislation, expected to include sections on trade corridors, collective bargaining and proposals to speed up federal project approvals.
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sources → share → approvals
CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
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they → name → sources
The section of the law, which has been on the books since 1984, was rarely used until recently, when the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used it to end disputes including between the Teamsters union and Canada's two largest railway companies, as well as other instances, including sending employees back to work at ports in Montreal and Vancouver.
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Liberals → use → Montreal
Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 to force Air Canada flight attendants back to work after they walked out in August 2025.
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they → invoke → August
The federal Liberals have increasingly used the once-obscure section of the legislation to force picketing workers back on the job.
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Liberals → use → job
Unions warn Carney government considering sweeping changes to labour law
Heavy-handed use of Labour Code painted Liberals in a corner: unions
However, unions contend that this heavy-handed use of the law undermines their ability to bargain and violates workers' rights.
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use → warn → rights
The move has been challenged in Federal Court.
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move → challenge → Court
The new measures will also empower the labour minister to appoint a "special mediator" who will issue a report in instances where unions in federally regulated industries can't come to an agreement with the employer.
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unions → empower → employer
The sources said that the use of Section 107 will be a "last resort" following reports from the special mediator.
But any move to strengthen the section of the Labour Code is likely to upset unions.
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move → say → unions
Speaking to CBC's Power and Politics on Friday, Hajdu said the coming legislation won't contain anything to limit the ability of unions to strike and will focus on a fraction of cases that lead to a "labour disruption."
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that → speak → disruption
"But there are some relationships between employers and unions that have become increasingly fractious, and the tools in the Canada Labour Code just aren't strong enough to actually help people get to those agreements together without a high degree of risk around labour disruption
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people → be → disruption
," Hajdu said.
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Hajdu → say → ?
Still, Hajdu said the Labour Code's tools to mediate disputes need to be modern, robust and include the ability to "put the pressure where it belongs, which is at the table between the parties."
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which → say → parties
The Aporia
