C-259Fair Representation Act
An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (fair representation)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on January 27, 2026
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since January 27, 2026
What it does
Clarifies when an employer may be seen as dominating a trade union, lets the labour board revoke certification, and adds penalties under the Canada Labour Code.
What it does
- Prohibits the Board from certifying a trade union, or treating its agreement as a collective agreement, if the union is dominated or influenced by an employer or someone acting for an employer.
- Requires the Board to be satisfied that a union is not dominated or influenced, and is governed by members elected by the employees it wants to represent, before certifying it.
- Lets employees ask to revoke a union’s certification if they claim employer domination or influence. The Board must hold an inquiry if 25% of employees in the unit apply in writing, and must revoke certification if it finds domination or influence.
- Bars those revocation applications during an allowed strike or lockout involving the employees, unless the Board consents, and applies similar revocation rules to councils of trade unions.
- Makes employer domination or influence an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $100,000.
- Allows regulations to create administrative monetary penalties for breaches of section 94, and requires the Minister of Labour to review the new provisions within five years and table a report in Parliament.
Who it affects
- Federally regulated employers
- Trade unions
- Employees in bargaining units
- Councils of trade unions
- Labour board
- Minister of Labour
Background
The bill amends the Canada Labour Code. It adds a definition of when an employer or someone acting for an employer dominates or influences a trade union.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalKevin Lamoureux· June 4, 2026
“I have had the opportunity in the past to do this, but I would like to use this time not only to reinforce my personal beliefs and thoughts in regard to unions but also to talk about the manner in which the government of today, and under Justin Trudeau, has been there to have people's back and support unions. I think there are a number of examples of that.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeKyle Seeback· June 4, 2026
“Initially, they are very supportive of the bill. Virtually every person in the construction and building trades unions whom I talked to thinks this is a great bill to deal with a union that they think is not a real union or is an employer-dominated union.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocAndréanne Larouche· June 4, 2026
“The Bloc Québécois supports the principle of this bill. I will start by talking about the importance of unions and why we are talking about them here tonight.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPHeather McPherson· June 4, 2026
“I am also proud to speak to this legislation, Bill C-259, the fair representation bill, or as I like to call it, the wolf in sheep's clothing bill. Today, Parliament will debate a simple idea that workers deserve real representation.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.