C-58An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on November 9, 2023
- Status
- Became law on June 20, 2024 · S.C. 2024, c. 12
What it does
The bill limits replacement workers in federal labour disputes, adds penalties, and speeds up decisions on work that must continue during strikes or lockouts.
What it does
- Expands the federal ban on replacement workers during legal strikes and lockouts, and bars use of certain contractors, transferred workers, volunteers, students and members of the public.
- Prohibits employers, during a strike or lockout meant to stop work by all employees in a bargaining unit, from using employees in that unit for other work, except in limited cases.
- Allows replacement services only for urgent situations involving an imminent or serious threat to life, safety, property or serious environmental damage, if no other means are available.
- Creates an offence for breaking these rules, with fines of up to $100,000 for each day the offence continues, and lets the government set administrative monetary penalties by regulation.
- Requires employers and unions to try to agree on work that must continue within 15 days after notice to bargain, or have the Canada Industrial Relations Board decide.
- Sets timelines for the Board to decide maintenance of activities cases, and requires reinstating striking or locked-out employees before other people when a stoppage ends.
Who it affects
- Federally regulated employers
- Trade unions
- Employees in bargaining units
- Striking workers
- Locked-out workers
- Canada Industrial Relations Board
Background
The bill changes rules in the Canada Labour Code for legal strikes and lockouts in federally regulated workplaces. It also amends the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012
Vote 774,
Passed
316 yeato0 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 774 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 147 0 9 Conservative Yea 114 0 4 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 22 0 2 Green Yea 1 0 1 Independent Yea 1 0 2 Total 316 0 2nd reading of Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012
Vote 647,
Passed
318 yeato0 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 647 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 8 Conservative Yea 112 0 5 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 318 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalSeamus O'Regan· November 22, 2023
“We listened to workers and I am very proud to say that on November 9, we tabled Bill C-58, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012. Some people have asked why now.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRick Perkins· November 22, 2023
“As I was saying, our shadow minister for labour would normally lead off on this bill in second reading, but he is back home because he has had a death in his family. As the shadow minister for industry, I have been asked to lead off.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocClaude DeBellefeuille· November 22, 2023
“We will be very pleased when the bill truly passes, including in the Senate, and the government hastens to implement it. I am sure that my colleague from Beauport—Limoilou will provide more details on this than I will.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPAlexandre Boulerice· November 22, 2023
“It is with great pleasure and emotion that I rise in the House to speak about an anti-scab bill introduced by the government. Other political parties have tabled many similar bills in recent years.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenElizabeth May· February 26, 2024
“I see that the United Steelworkers union has made it clear that it would like to see the exemptions and the loopholes in this bill, Bill C-58, removed. There are some exemptions that would allow certain categories of workers and volunteers to continue their activities during strikes and lockouts.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.