Full Breakdown
Bill C-39 Advances to Committee Amid Calls for Amendments
By Drooid · · How we work
Bill C-39 Advances to Committee
The Liberal government’s Bill C-39, a 243-page proposal to extend the one-project-one-review, one-year timeline to a broader range of infrastructure projects, received its first vote in the House of Commons on Thursday. Conservatives voted with the governing Liberals to refer the bill to a special committee for study, while the New Democratic Party (NDP) and Green Party were denied committee seats.
Background & Context
Bill C-39 is a centerpiece of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s economic agenda, aimed at reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States and positioning the country as a reliable partner for overseas markets. The legislation would give the cabinet authority to fast-track project approvals, set a one-year deadline for reviews, and modify the Canada Labour Code to clarify when the jobs minister may intervene in federally regulated labour disputes.
Official Statements & Responses
The government says the bill will maintain the duty to consult Indigenous groups and will not erode the right to strike. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asserted that workers’ rights would not be compromised, though she declined to answer a Senate question on potential limits to striking. The government also argues that the proposed “guardrails” will prevent ministerial overreach in labour matters.
Criticism & Opposition
NDP leader Avi Lewis called the bill “must be scrapped,” citing inadequate consultation with Indigenous peoples and the risk of undermining treaty rights. NDP House leader Don Davies labeled the exclusion of the NDP from the committee “fundamentally undemocratic.” Green Party leader Elizabeth May described the legislation as an “omnibus of omnibuses” that threatens the environment. Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier of the Teme Augama Anishinabek nation urged amendments to require Indigenous consent and to eliminate consultation deadlines. Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, warned that the changes could cripple unions’ bargaining power.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are people in the progressive Liberal universe who are dismayed by this legislation and I encourage more of them to speak up before it’s too late,” — Leader Avi Lewis
- “Indigenous people want to build, and I believe that Indigenous Canadians can be the richest people anywhere on earth if we unblock our resources, get the government out of the way and get building,” — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre