Yesterday, a majority of 153 MPs voted to defeat Bill C-386 An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers). This means that bills addressing this issue will be ruled as inadmissible during this Parliament. This is good news for Canada’s federally-regulated critical infrastructure providers, including railways, airlines, airports, telecommunications providers, trucking companies, ports and banks. It is also good news for those businesses depending upon them to keep their operations running and Canadians who use electronic banking, automated teller and retail debit card services; rely upon communications in hospitals and police services, airlines, passenger rail; and live in communities with limited or no road access.

If passed, this bill would have prohibited federally-regulated critical infrastructure providers from using replacement workers, during a labour dispute to keep goods and services flowing to Canadian businesses and citizens.

The defeat of this bill was due, in large part, to the power of the 420-member Canadian Chamber network of local chambers of commerce and boards of trade who spoke to their members of Parliament to let them know how harmful this type of legislation could be to all businesses and all Canadians. Clearly your voices were heard.