Issue 123 – 26, October 11, 2026
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Bill C-39 Liberals and Conservative vote together
The Canadian Labour Congress has call this is a critical moment for workers across Canada. Pressure is building on the government to protect the right to strike, walk back changes to Canada’s labour laws, and scrap strike-breaking Section 107. Now we need to keep it up.
On October 13, join workers, unions, and supporters from coast to coast to coast for a major national telephone townhall. They will break down what’s happening, what’s at stake, and how we can turn up the pressure together.
The proposed law would speed up major project approvals and change how the federal government can respond to labour disputes. Critics say it needs major changes before it becomes law.
Bill C-39, also called the Building Canada Strong Act, has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. On Thursday, Oct. 8, most Liberal MPs and the Conservatives voted to send it to a special committee for study.
The 243-page bill is a key part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s economic plan. It would make it easier to approve major projects, such as energy and infrastructure developments. The government wants projects to go through one review, completed within a year.
The bill would also change rules for labour disputes in federally regulated industries. It proposes special mediators and a “national interest” test to help decide when the labour minister could step into a strike or lockout.
NDP Leader Avi Lewis and Parliamentary Leader Don Davies spoke against the bill alongside labour, Indigenous and environmental representatives. They said it could weaken workers’ rights, Indigenous rights and environmental protections.
Davies said the government should not build projects at the expense of people’s rights. Lewis called for the bill to be scrapped, saying affected Indigenous communities and other groups had not been properly consulted.
Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier of the Teme Augama Anishinabek said her community is not against development. But she wants the bill changed to require Indigenous consent, remove strict deadlines for consultation and make companies clean up old industrial sites.
The special committee will have six Liberal MPs, four Conservatives and one Bloc Québécois MP.
Davies said he asked Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon to let the NDP take part but was refused. He called the decision undemocratic.
The Canadian Labour Congress has also questioned whether the committee will have enough time and witnesses to properly study the legislation.
Unions say the bill could make it easier for the government to limit strikes. Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske said the possibility of a strike encourages employers and workers to reach an agreement.
Some employers want the government to have more power. Derrick Hynes, head of the federally regulated employers’ group FETCO, supports special mediators but says the labour minister should be able to act before a strike or lockout begins.
The committee is expected to begin its work after the House returns from its Thanksgiving break, during the week of Oct. 19, unless MPs agree to meet sooner.
October 13, 2026, at 6:00PM - 7:00PM EST - virtual event
On October 13, join workers, unions, and supporters from coast to coast to coast for a major national telephone townhall. We’ll break down what’s happening, what’s at stake, and how we can turn up the pressure together.
Register - Defend the right to strike telephone townhall - Workers Together
Canada’s 1976 Day of Protest: Wage and Price Controls
On October 14, 1976, more than one million workers across Canada left their jobs to protest the federal government’s wage-control program. Workers marched, held rallies, and spoke out against rules they believed were unfair. The event became one of the largest labour protests in Canadian history.
During the 1970s, many Canadians faced rising prices and a weak economy. The cost of oil rose sharply, making it more expensive to heat homes, drive cars, and move goods. At the same time, some workers lost their jobs as corporations adopted automation or moved production to countries where wages were lower.
Prices kept rising, while unemployment also increased. This mix of high inflation and joblessness became known as “stagflation”.
Workers asked for higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living. But in 1975, the federal government passed Bill C-73, the Anti-Inflation Act. It set limits on wage increases for many workers, including federal employees and workers at large companies. The rules also applied to many public-sector workers.
The government said the controls would slow inflation. Many workers and union leaders argued that the rules placed too much of the burden on employees. They were especially angry because Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had criticized wage and price controls during the 1974 election campaign.
Unions began explaining the new law to workers and organizing opposition. The Canadian Labour Congress, led by Joe Morris, called October 14th, a National Day of Protest.
In Saint John, New Brunswick, local union leaders worked hard to bring people together. Workers from paper mills, the sugar refinery, who were the first to experience their wages rolled back by the legislation, and other workplaces were affected by the wage rules, held meetings and rallies to discuss the issue.
The protest faced opposition. Some employers warned workers not to take part, and some workers feared they could lose their jobs. Still, unions across the country continued to organize.
The protest showed that many workers were ready to act together, even when taking part meant losing a day’s pay. It also brought public attention to the effects of wage controls on workers and their families. The protest did not end the legislation, but it strengthened the labour movement and showed the power of collective action.
The controls ended before their planned finish in 1978. Inflation had fallen only modestly while they were in place, and people continued to debate how much the program had impacted workers, and not prices.
Fifty years later, the Day of Protest remains an important moment in Canadian history. It reminds us that workers have often joined together to defend their pay, their rights, and their ability to have a voice at work.
On October 14th the Toronto Workers History Project will host a presentation and discussion on Canada’s first and still the only national general strike in Canada.
Join the discussion of that day of protest and its importance on its 50th anniversary, October 14, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Hosted by TWHP Board member Lorne Slotnick, the guest speakers will be:
- Paul Forder, former director of political education, Ontario Federation of Labour, organizer of the day of protest in Ontario.
- Stephanie Ross, professor of Labour Studies, McMaster University, author on labour and social change.
You don’t have to pre-register for the event, at 7pm EST just click this link and join in.
CLICK FOR THE ZOOM PRESENTATION
Congress of Union Retirees of Canada Observes Ageism Awareness Day
This week we celebrated Ageism Awareness Day, October 9th, it was an opportunity to talk about how age-based stereotypes and unfair treatment affect people. Ageism can harm people at every stage of life, and because everyone deserves respect, fair treatment, and the chance to take part in their community.
The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada observes Ageism Awareness Day to help people recognize ageism and work together to challenge it. Raising awareness is an important first step, but lasting change also requires fair policies and everyday actions that respect people’s rights and choices.
Ageism means judging or treating someone unfairly because of their age. It can show up in our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. For example, people may assume that an older person cannot learn new technology, or that a younger person is too inexperienced to have a good idea. These beliefs may seem small, but they can lead to unfair decisions in health care, and in everyday life.
Ageism can also affect health, well-being, and financial security. Being treated as less capable or less important can harm a person’s confidence and sense of belonging. Some older adults also face poverty, while others manage health concerns, caregiving duties, or barriers to services. People’s experiences are not all the same, age can combine with racism, disability, gender, or other forms of unfair treatment.
Older adults are not alike, and age does not tell us what a person can do. Many older people work, care for family members and friends, volunteer, use technology, and share their skills with others. They contribute to their communities in ways that may not always be noticed.
At the same time, younger people also face age-based assumptions. They may be ignored or told they are too young to understand. Age inclusion means valuing people of all ages and making room for them to contribute.
Ageism can create an “us and them” attitude between generations. But people of different ages often share important needs and values. We can break down barriers by listening to one another, asking questions instead of making assumptions, and giving everyone a fair chance to speak and lead.
Ageing is a natural part of life. By challenging stereotypes and building age-inclusive communities, we can create a society where people of every age are treated with dignity and have the chance to take part. Age inclusion benefits us all, because we all are an age, and many of us will grow older.
Read more - Ageism Toolkit - Canadian Coalition Against Ageism