Canada's New Economy Bill Sparks Fears Over Workers' Rights

The Canadian government is set to introduce an economy bill aimed at making the economy more resilient, but critics warn it could threaten workers' rights.

The bill, which will be introduced in Parliament on Monday, has been met with resistance from labour leaders who claim it will restrict workers' ability to strike and weaken their bargaining power.

According to Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, the goal of the bill is to 'reduce' the number of times the government intervenes in collective bargaining, making it 'easier' for parties to reach a labour agreement. However, labour leaders argue that any measure that restricts workers' right to strike will harm their rights and undermine their ability to negotiate fair wages and working conditions.

The bill is expected to codify the government's use of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which has been used in recent years to quash strike actions when a dispute is deemed to threaten the national economic interest. This move has prompted ongoing court challenges from labour groups.