'Stay tuned': Canada's unions considering legal action to protect right to strike - National Post

Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske speaks during a press conference responding to the changes to Canada Labour Code at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /PostmediaArticle contentOTTAWA — Another legal battle may be brewing between the labour movement and the federal government over its proposed changes to the Canada Labour Code.

Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske said that after thorough examination of the Building Canada Strong Act introduced Monday and meeting with the heads of Canada’s unions, “we’re looking at all of our options legally and otherwise.”

“I can’t speak for every single union. Obviously, we’ve had many meaningful conversations with all of our union partners over the last 24 hours. We will take that one moment at a time. It’s only day two, so stay tuned,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

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Speaking in New York, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government’s bill “absolutely reinforces the right to strike” and creates transparency around negotiating processes in some of the most strategic parts of our economy, like railroads and ports.

“We want to build Canada strong. That’s what Canadians elected us for, and that’s what we look to do,” he said on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

Bruske said Canada’s unions are all in favour of doing their part in the midst of a trade war with the United States by creating more jobs and safeguarding those they already have. But the legislation introduced by the government goes too far, she said.

“Make no mistake, this is an attack on the workers’ rights to be able to meaningfully get to the bargaining table and to leverage the only power that they have, which is to withdraw their labour,” Bruske said in a press conference on Parliament Hill.

“Each union is going to make a decision in terms of how they navigate their upcoming rounds of bargaining. But this is clearly putting the lever on the side of employers.”

The country’s unions had already filed applications for judicial review with the Federal Court system to challenge the government’s use of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end strikes across the country and refer all matters to binding arbitration.

Labour leaders were hoping to see Section 107 removed from the labour code in the new legislation.

Instead, the Building Canada Strong Act, or Bill C-39, creates what Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu called “clear guardrails” around when the controversial tool can be used by the federal government to put an end to a work stoppage in federally regulated areas.

The legislation states that the minister would have to be of the opinion that the strike or lockout that is underway is adversely affecting the “national interest” — either by having a “significant impact” on the economy or causing “serious social disruption.”

The minister would also have to consider a report from a new special mediator role who will have 21 days to mediate the work dispute between the parties.