Evidence of meeting #2 for Bill C-39 in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I gave an answer, and there are explanatory notes that accompany this bill. So the details are there.
You asked a question that I didn't have time to answer. If we want to talk about the projects we are putting forward, let's talk about the Churchill Falls project. It's the largest investment in clean energy—
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
We're also investing in Wind West, an offshore wind project.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
My question was about Pacific Link. I asked you if you knew the impact of this project.
Are you, as Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, comfortable with the idea of pre-approving projects and allowing the construction of a pipeline before we even know the impact studies and their results?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The system we have is that we will continue to do all the studies we need to meet the conditions necessary to implement the projects that are proposed. So there are still investigations, and conditions must always be met for all projects. I'm not just talking about one project, because there would be some—
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
With all due respect, that's not what I asked you.
Are you comfortable with the idea of pre-approving projects before impact studies are done for those projects and allowing companies to build pipelines before there is an impact study?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Today, we are here to talk about Bill C‑39. As for this one, if I can talk about what we have before us, I'm very comfortable, because what I see is a system that allows us to put conditions in place. We have systems to better consult with indigenous peoples. I see a system where we put in place a hierarchy of mitigation—
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
—through a cabinet directive. We are putting in place what is necessary to properly protect interests and the environment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
That's all of your time. Thank you.
Mr. Seeback, it's over to you for the start of the five-minute round.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Minister Hajdu, going back, your government is prepared to use section 107 to end a strike or a lockout, basically forcing people into arbitration. What I don't understand is why you're not prepared, in this legislation, to effectively force the parties into the same room to make sure that they're actually talking to each other.
Why not give the special mediator the power, during that 21-day period, to say, “The parties have to come in and meet every day from nine to five. I don't care if you sit there and stare at each other and don't do anything, but you're going to be here”? In these situations, it's pressure that puts parties where they're going to negotiate.
Why haven't you given the special mediator any real powers, other than this report that may cause shame for one party or another?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
First of all, the intent of the entire package is getting parties that are resistant to being in a room and talking in that room much earlier, and—
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
They don't have to be in the room, though. There's nothing in here that.... The special mediator can't determine a meeting schedule.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
That's going to be a pretty easy report for the special mediator when a party decides to absent itself from the negotiations. I certainly wouldn't want to be the union leader or the employer when the report comes out that says they didn't even try.
It's important that you understand that you can force people into a room but you can't force them to talk. I've been in these situations where people are essentially passing paper back and forth, and it's not sincere. The special mediator is there to observe that dynamic and give the parties an opportunity to change their approach, and then, if nothing changes, to publicly report back to Canadians, shareholders, customers and union members exactly what's happening at that table.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
That's the only mechanism, though. The only mechanism is that there will be a report that will be public and could cast blame on one side or the other, or both.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
That is, I think, a very strong new tool that has not existed in the Canada Labour Code or in the practice of labour negotiations at the federal level.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I want to go back to geographic certification. You're making vast and sweeping changes to geographic certification. You're now allowing two employers in any region in any geographic area to apply for geographic certification. This could have major impacts on unions all across the country.
Why would you have such a massive expansion of geographic certification at the request of two employers, without the consent of any of the unions that would be affected?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
To be clear, it's not an approval of geographic certification. It's a referral to the Canada—
October 19th, 2026 / 6:10 p.m.
Conservative
Liberal