Bill C-276 (Historical)

Workplace Psychological Harassment Prevention Act

An Act to prevent psychological harassment in the workplace and to amend the Canada Labour Code

This enactment defines psychological harassment and abuse of power, requires the federal public administration to provide its employees with employment free of psychological harassment, and requires every employee of the public service of Canada to disclose behaviour that is contrary to these principles.
The enactment also provides for the exercise of recourse, the imposition of fines and the taking of remedial action when an employee who has made a disclosure is subjected to retaliation.
Lastly, the enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to prohibit acts of psychological harassment.

Workplace Psychological Harassment Prevention Act

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-276, An Act to prevent psychological harassment in the workplace and to amend the Canada Labour Code.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and introduce this bill, an important bill that would deal with psychological harassment in the workplace. This bill would fill a gap in that there would be operations as well as procedures put in place to protect workers from psychological harassment.

We have seen a number of cases across this country where workers have been intimidated. This bill would correct that by providing the proper justice to the file and making sure that there are penalties for those who perpetrate this type of crime on individuals in the workforce.

This is my second attempt to table this bill. I would also note that the provincial NDP is supporting a similar bill in the Ontario legislature and Saskatchewan has already passed this law. This would make it uniform across the country.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)