Carney says Labour Code change will 'protect' right to strike

24-Sep-2026

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The Liberal government is proposing changes that it says will establish a "guardrail" around a controversial portion of the Labour Code — but experts say even if the bill goes through as written, the legal battles will be far from over.

Section 107, which gives the minister responsible broad powers to "maintain or secure industrial peace," has been on the books for decades. But since 2024, the federal government has come under fire for using the section to order striking workers back on the job and begin binding arbitration.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on September 22 that the bill "absolutely reinforces the right to strike.