Federal Government Introduces Legislation to Reform Labour Code

As the fall parliamentary session opens today, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is set to introduce the Building Canada Strong Act. The proposed legislation aims to overhaul project review regulations nationwide while introducing amendments to the Canada Labour Code.

Concerns Raised Over Government Interventions in Strikes

The upcoming bill has sparked apprehension among union leaders, who express concern that the measure could erode worker protections. They worry the law will formalize federal authority to stop work stoppages when national economic interests are impacted, following the frequent application of Section 107 of the labour code to halt disputes at ports, railways, and other key industrial sectors in recent years.

Ottawa Asserts Aim Is to Reduce Federal Intervention

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu pledged that the federal government will not infringe upon collective bargaining or the right to strike. According to Hajdu, the planned statutory updates are intended to limit the frequency of government interventions during collective bargaining disputes.

U.S. Seeks Alternative Potash Supply

American buyers could soon see “substantially less” expensive fertilizer costs as the United States negotiates an agreement to purchase potash from Belarus. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the initiative in a social media statement Monday morning, aiming to decrease reliance on Canadian exports.

Trump described the potential pact with Belarus—an authoritarian nation and close ally of Russia—as “very good news” for ranchers and farmers across the United States. Potash serves as an essential ingredient in agricultural fertilizers.

Impact on Canadian Agriculture Exports

The United States currently depends heavily on Canadian production to fulfill its agricultural needs. Saskatchewan-based producer Nutrien Ltd. notes that Canada provides over 80 per cent of the potash utilized on U.S. farms. In 2025, American imports of Canadian potash reached $4.2 billion, accounting for nearly half of Canada’s total exports of the mineral. Potash remains exempt from U.S. tariffs.

Global potash supply remains concentrated among a few nations. Canada generated approximately one-third of global output in 2023, followed by Russia and Belarus. Although potash prices spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, costs have since decreased, though they continue to trade above prewar levels.

Demonstrations Erupt Nationwide Over Federal Policy Changes

Demonstrators gathered in Vancouver and across Canada on Sunday to challenge federal measures aimed at curbing the nation’s temporary resident population. The rallies, organized by the Migrant Rights Network across 11 locations including British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island, occurred just ahead of Parliament’s resumption.

Federal policy changes introduced in 2024 have established tighter regulations for temporary foreign workers and set caps on study permits. The government aims to shrink non-permanent residents from a peak of 7.6 per cent of the population in October 2024 to below five per cent by late 2027, citing pressure on healthcare, housing, and public services. Parliamentary Budget Officer data shows net inflows of non-permanent residents reached nearly 800,000 in 2023.

Local Rallies Highlight Community Impacts

In Vancouver, advocates and residents assembled at Memorial South Park, symbolically bashing a piñata representing Bill C-12, recent federal legislation tightening asylum and immigration rules. Local rally participants expressed deep concern that shifting federal policies leave workers facing deportation, expiring permits, and difficult working conditions despite having followed official processes.

Organizers are urging Ottawa to provide permanent status to migrants currently in the country, auto-renew study and work permits, halt deportations, and eliminate employer-tied permits. Campaign materials from the Migrant Rights Network argued that blaming migrants fails to address rising rents, healthcare pressures, or wage issues, warning that policy shifts risk dividing workers.