C-247 · 45-1

An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code

Defeated
Introduced
2025-10-06
Debated
5 mentions in Parliament
Sponsor
Leah Gazan · NDP · Winnipeg Centre (MB)
Summary

Bill C-247 is a short, narrow bill that makes a single change to the Canada Labour Code. It repeals section 107 of the Code, which currently gives the federal Minister of Labour the power to take steps aimed at encouraging conditions favourable to resolving industrial disputes between employers and unions. This includes the Minister's authority to refer questions to the Canada Industrial Relations Board or to direct that Board to take whatever measures the Minister considers necessary during a labour dispute.

If passed, this would remove that specific ministerial power entirely. In practical terms, the Minister of Labour would no longer be able to intervene directly in a labour dispute by ordering the Canada Industrial Relations Board to act in a particular way or by referring dispute-related questions to it under this authority. The bill does not change any other part of the Canada Labour Code, and it does not add new rights or processes elsewhere to replace this power — it simply eliminates it.

Powers and oversight

This bill repeals section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, removing the Minister of Labour's power to intervene in industrial disputes.

  • Power removed — the Minister of Labour would no longer be able to refer any question relating to an industrial dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
  • Power removed — the Minister would no longer be able to direct the Board to take any measure the Minister considers necessary to promote conditions favourable to settling a dispute.
  • What becomes possible — industrial disputes falling outside this section would proceed and be resolved solely through whatever other mechanisms remain in the Canada Labour Code, without this avenue for ministerial intervention.
  • Scope of change — the bill contains no replacement provision, no new body, and no transitional or review clause; it consists of a single repeal.

Read from the bill's own text by AI. It describes what the bill allows, not whether that is justified.

Stage history

  1. Proposal — introduced (House 1st reading)Oct 6, 2025