Debates of Oct. 27th, 2025

Labour

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am standing here today in solidarity with the over 60,000 CUPW workers in this country, workers the government has turned its back on.

Last spring, I asked the Minister of Jobs and Families why the Liberals were not protecting postal services and our posties. She said, “Federal mediators continue to work with the parties on a solution”. That is not true. None of that is happening. There is no effective mediation happening. There are no effective negotiations ongoing. It has all been a sham. The Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement has simply parroted every single thing that Canada Post management has said to undermine workers, delay fair negotiations and chip away at one of our country's most fundamental and trusted public institutions.

Just ask anyone from a small or rural community how important Canada Post is. Ask a small business owner what Canada Post means to them. CUPW workers have proposed ways to save this Canadian institution. We could have postal banking. We could have senior check-ins. We could have a delivery system that meets our climate targets. Canada Post's infrastructure could be expanded to benefit all Canadians. It could be a public service that strengthens our communities. Instead, the Liberals would rather punish the workers and let Canada Post die.

New Democrats know workers deserve better. I am so proud of the work my colleagues and I have done to protect workers in this country. I think about the work the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie did in the last Parliament to force the government to put in place anti-scab legislation. I think about my colleague from Winnipeg Centre, who has tabled legislation that would repeal section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, the section the Liberal government continues to use against workers, taking away their right to negotiate.

I am proud of the legislation that I am bringing forward to the House that will stop company unions such as CLAC. It would stop unions that are not working in the best interests of their workers, because every single worker deserves to know the union that represents them has their best interests, and only their best interests, at heart.

There is so much work left to do. We need legislation to ensure that all major federal projects must use Canadian workers and Canadian products. We need community benefit agreements that must be negotiated to establish high labour standards, including prevailing wages, minimum apprenticeship ratios, union representation and affirmative action hiring for people from regional, indigenous or disadvantaged communities. We need to stop the expansion of unfair gig work. These workers are not self-employed. They deserve EI. They deserve to be covered by CPP.

Make no mistake, the workers in this country are under attack. Just today, in my home province of Alberta, Danielle Smith is threatening to use the notwithstanding clause against 51,000 teachers in our province. We all need to pay attention, because if Danielle Smith can do this to the teachers today, Conservative premiers across the country will do it to nurses, to construction workers, to anyone who dares to fight for fairness. This is bullying and a rejection of the rights of every worker in this country. This is an assault on our fundamental freedoms and an assault on our democracy.

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, our new government is proud to support a commitment to collective bargaining. Free and fair collective bargaining is at the heart of a stable labour relations regime.

Tonight, I will provide an update on the ongoing labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. I will also highlight the work we are doing to to help the parties reach an agreement. First, I would like to touch on the importance of collective bargaining.

The best deal is the deal that parties reach by themselves at the bargaining table. Collective bargaining is not easy, but it produces the strongest agreements, agreements that help stabilize our economy. That is why we banned replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces during strikes or lockouts. We celebrated this legislation's coming into force this year on June 20. The bill received unanimous support in Parliament.

Replacement workers can destabilize the bargaining process and poison the workplace for years to come. Banning their use protects workers' right to strike and removes distractions from collective bargaining. This will bring greater stability to our economy, because a strong economy depends on stable labour relations.

The responsibility of reaching negotiated deals rests solely with the parties, but the government can and does step in to help when needed. Last year, 97% of all disputes in federally regulated sectors were resolved without a work stoppage. That was thanks in large part to the outstanding work of the federal mediation and conciliation service, which has some of Canada's best mediators. They have worked hard to support both parties in this dispute, but the parties still need to agree. When they are unable to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, it can threaten Canada's economic health. Canadians simply cannot afford this.

Canada Post is one of Canada's largest employers, with more than 50,000 workers. It delivered 6.4 billion pieces of mail and parcels to 17.6 million locations across Canada in 2024. The instability caused by this dispute has been felt beyond the company's walls. It has put a strain on Canada's small businesses and communities.

CUPW and Canada Post need to find the right balance that secures the future of the corporation and respects the workers who keep it running. Both parties have priorities they want recognized, and Canadians expect the parties to resolve this dispute fast. Canadians depend on them to get this right.

The government has been supporting the parties with their negotiations for almost two years. Federal mediators remain available to support the bargaining process, but both parties are encouraged to continue working toward a fair resolution. I am proud to be part of a government that respects and has faith in the collective bargaining process. It is good for unions, for employees, for employers and for all of Canada.

Over the coming year, I look forward to working with this new government to ensure that Canada's workers, Canada's unions and Canada's labour force are strongly represented in major projects and in the building we are going to be doing right across Canada.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, across this country, from the schools in Alberta to the factories in Ontario and from the farms in the Prairies to the offices and hospitals in our cities, it is the workers of Canada who build this nation every single day. Workers' rights are not gifts handed down. They are victories won through courage, solidarity and sacrifice. Every fair wage, every safe workplace and every weekend and benefit we have was fought for by people who believed in the dignity and justice of workers. However, today, those hard-won rights are under threat.

The Liberal government must stop attacking workers, stop undermining collective bargaining, stop leaving workers behind and start standing with the people who make this country run. When workers rise, Canada rises. The strength of this nation has always been and always will be found in the hands of our workers. Solidarity forever.

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that Canada has been built on the strength of our labour movements. This government strongly supports labour in Canada. We have banned replacement workers. We have introduced 10 days of paid sick leave.

Just today, the Minister of Jobs and Families announced a major reinvestment in the union training and innovation program to create tens of thousands of new jobs for skilled trades workers. These are union, labour, career-starting jobs. She also announced a hero tax credit, which is going to support personal support workers in our health care unions with up to $1,100 in a refundable tax credit, recognizing the incredible caregiving these workers provide to Canadians and our loved ones right across the country.

I heard the member opposite. I want to assure her that the Government of Canada will continue to take the side of fairness, continue to support our workers and continue to support collective bargaining in every way we can. Canadians deserve no less.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until Tuesday at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6:58 p.m.)