Opposition, Unions Claim Labour Code Exposes Canadian Workers

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Several opposition parties and labour groups have openly denounced new federal labour code regulations introduced in the Conservative government’s fall budget bill, as they claim new rules will deprive health and safety protections for Canadian workers while also making it more difficult for employees to refuse to work in unsafe conditions.

However, the Conservative government is still consistent to its first perspective, alleging that the workers still have plenty rights to refuse dangerous work, while highlighting that the changes are aimed to improve workplace safety and direct health and safety officials to where they are most needed. The 321-page fall budget implied several changes, including a bill aimed at redefining what is considered “danger” in federally regulated workplaces, along with amendment of the “refusal to work process.” In addition to that, the legislative amendments also “remove all references to health and safety officers and to confer on the Minister of Labour their powers, duties and functions.”

While addressing the changes, Conservative government revealed that they would apply to approximately 1.2 million Canadian workers, i.e. 8.2 per cent of all employees in Canada who fall under that section of the Canada Labour Code. Elaborating on those estimated 1.2 million Canadian workers, it was explained to majorly constitute of members from several sectors including telecommunications, rail, transport, airlines, the federal public service and others, with the remaining workers covered by provincial labour codes. Secretary-treasurer with the Canadian Labour Congress, Hassan Yussuf, alleged that “it really is an affront to the protection of workers from harm and danger in the workplace.”