Human Resources Committee on Dec. 9th, 2025

Evidence of meeting #20 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was 107.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

The definition of "work" and the use of section 107 in the Canada Labour Code

Members speaking

Before the committee

Chan Vice President, Strategic Policy and Supply Chains, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Safayeni President and Chief Executive Officer, Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications

Pigott Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications

Neufeld National President, Union of Safety and Justice Employees

Leblanc Assistant Director, Negotiations Section, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Union of Safety and Justice Employees

Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau Full professor, University of Montreal, As an Individual

Lesosky President, Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Antunes Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada

11:50 a.m.

Vice President, Strategic Policy and Supply Chains, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Pascal Chan

Absolutely. Thank you for the question.

I mentioned, first of all, that they feel that not enough is happening because of the list of major labour disruptions we've seen that have impacted our economy. In addition to that, one of the roles the chamber plays is kind of convening. We talk about the 200,000 businesses but also all the industry associations that represent all sectors of business.

Over the course of the last, say, two and a half years, we've written a number of letters to the minister trying to raise concerns about these upcoming labour disruptions. They've been signed by about 115 industry associations from all over and by about 125 chambers of commerce. Some them are even represented in this room: Balfour and District Chamber of Commerce, Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce and Atlantic Chamber of Commerce.

Again, in communities represented by the MPs sitting around the table here, they have serious concerns about what these labour disruptions are doing, not only in the transportation sector but also down the economy and in all regions of Canada where the movement of these goods is critically important to their survival.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Koutrakis.

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for two minutes and 30 seconds.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was hoping to have another six minutes.

Since I do not have much time, witnesses can provide me with a more detailed response in writing after the meeting if they wish.

Mr. Neufeld spoke about the need for structural change, and Mr. Safayeni said that ad hoc changes had been made and that the system needed to be modernized. I don't want to put words in their mouths, but this seems to go beyond the scope of section 107.

So, what are they suggesting?

Mr. Safayeni spoke of good faith. I am not assessing the good faith of either party or the merits of either party's demands in collective agreement negotiations. However, we want these negotiations to work well, meaning that they work quickly and to the satisfaction of all parties. I am sure the witnesses feel the same way.

If we are to make changes to other provisions, what changes are they suggesting? Which parts of the Canada Labour Code are they suggesting we focus on in particular?

I know that the answer to this question could be very long. I therefore ask the witnesses to send us their answers in writing if they wish. This would be relevant to the committee's work.

11:50 a.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications

Daniel Safayeni

There are a number of things with the code more broadly that FETCO and our members find problematic. What I was speaking to were the 10 paid mandated sick days and how that has actually manifested over the last 10 years. That is not to say federally regulated employers are against paid sick leave—we are in favour of it—but in the way it's actually been implemented there have been, as Chris warned about earlier, unintended consequences: This is overriding existing collective bargaining agreements and adding an additional 10 paid days, based on employees who already had 10 paid sick leaves. It's problematic in how that's been implemented.

The outright ban on replacement workers has left organizations in a situation where they are going to struggle to keep basic and critical services that Canadians rely upon running in the event of a small disruption. Just to put a pin in this, you can now have a small, localized bargaining unit of, maybe, 100 people in a 30,000-people organization, and the ripple effects could shut that entire organization down, the way the legislation has been written.

My last point here on section 107, which is what the committee is investigating, is that I think we need to acknowledge the problem and urgency. We are not advancing a ready-made alternative today. What we are saying is that the government needs to look at intervention tools potentially beyond section 107, and these should be built around a few clear principles.

Number one—

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Mrs. Gill.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC

Mr. Chair, the witnesses' answers may be submitted in writing.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Yes.

Please provide the answers to Ms. Gill's questions, in writing, to the committee clerk.

We now move to Ms. Falk for five minutes.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for being here.

Mr. Chan, I'm going to start with you, if I may. Just in pulling from what I have heard throughout the discussion, but also from your opening testimony, you said that we have what the world needs. I 100% agree. In Saskatchewan, we have potash, uranium, canola, natural gas and oil. We have every single thing that not only fuels people, but the world, and their comings and goings in an ethical and environmental way—and I would go so far as to say in the most environmental way in the world. I am so proud of my farmers and energy workers.

Does your organization support the escalating fertilizer tax that is on our farmers?