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Bill C-420

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First Session, Forty-second Parliament,

64-65-66-67 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017-2018

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-420
An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act

FIRST READING, November 1, 2018

Mr. Marcil

421549


SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to make it an offence for employers to hire replacement workers to perform the duties of employees who are on strike or locked out.

The enactment also amends that Act to, among other things, authorize the Minister of Labour to enter into an agreement with the government of a province to provide for the application, to pregnant and nursing employees, of certain provisions of the provincial legislation concerning occupational health and safety.

Finally, the enactment amends that Act, the Official Languages Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act to clarify the application of the Charter of the French Language in Quebec.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 42nd Parliament,

64-65-66-67 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017-2018

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-420

An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

R.‍S.‍, c. L-2

Canada Labour Code

1The Canada Labour Code is amended by adding the following after section 4:

Application in Quebec

Start of inserted block

4.‍1Any federal work, undertaking or business operating in Quebec is subject to the requirements of the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11.

End of inserted block

2Section 87.‍6 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Reinstatement of employees after strike or lockout

87.‍6At the end of a strike or lockout not prohibited by this Part, the employer must reinstate employees in the bargaining unit who were on strike or locked out, in preference to any Insertion start other Insertion end person, Insertion start unless the employer has a valid reason not to reinstate those employees Insertion end .

3Subsection 94(2.‍1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Prohibitions relating to replacement workers

(2.‍1) Insertion start During a strike or lockout not prohibited by this Part Insertion end , no employer or person acting on behalf of an employer shall

  • Insertion start (a) Insertion end use the services of a person to perform the duties of an employee Insertion start who is a member of Insertion end the bargaining unit on strike or locked out, Insertion start if that person Insertion end was hired Insertion start during the period beginning Insertion end on the Insertion start day Insertion end on which notice to bargain collectively was given Insertion start and ending on the last day of the strike or lockout Insertion end ;

  • Start of inserted block

    (b)use the services of a person employed by another employer, or the services of a contractor, to perform the duties of an employee who is a member of the bargaining unit on strike or locked out;

  • (c)subject to section 87.‍4, use, in the place of employment where the strike or lockout has been declared, the services of an employee who is a member of the bargaining unit on strike or locked out;

  • (d)use, in another place of employment of the employer, the services of an employee who is a member of the bargaining unit on strike or locked out;

  • (e)use, in the place of employment where the strike or lockout has been declared, the services of an employee employed in another place of employment of the employer; or

  • (f)use, in the place of employment where the strike or lockout has been declared, the services of an employee usually employed in that place of employment to perform the duties of an employee who is a member of the bargaining unit on strike or locked out.

    End of inserted block

Protection of property

Start of inserted block

(2.‍2)Subsection (2.‍1) does not have the effect of preventing the employer from taking any necessary meas­ures to avoid the destruction of, or serious damage to, the employer’s property.

End of inserted block

Exceptions

Start of inserted block

(2.‍3)Subsection (2.‍1) does not apply to

  • (a)a person employed as a manager, superintendent or supervisor or an employer representative; or

  • (b)a person serving as a director or officer of a corpor­ation, unless the person has been designated to serve in that capacity for the person’s employer by the employees or by a certified trade union.

    End of inserted block

4Paragraph 99(1)‍(b.‍3) of the Act is replaced by the following:

  • (b.‍3)in respect of a failure to comply with subsection 94(2.‍1), by order, require the employer to stop using, for the duration of the dispute, the services of Insertion start a Insertion end person Insertion start described in any of paragraphs 94(2.‍1)‍(a) to (f) Insertion end ;

5Section 100 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):

Hiring of replacement workers

Start of inserted block

(5)Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection 94(2.‍1) is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars for each day or part of a day during which the offence continues.

End of inserted block

6The Act is amended by adding the following after section 132:

Agreement – application of provincial legislation

Start of inserted block

132.‍1(1)The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with the government of a province to provide for the application, to the employees referred to in section 132, of certain provisions of the provincial legislation concerning occupational health and safety if the Minister is of the opinion that the provincial legislation is at least as favourable to the employees as the federal legislation.

End of inserted block

Provision not applicable

Start of inserted block

(2)Without prejudice to any other right conferred by this Act, by a collective agreement or other agreement, or by any terms and conditions of employment, an employee may not cease to perform her job under section 132 while an agreement is in force in the province.

End of inserted block

Report

Start of inserted block

132.‍2Within one year after the day on which section 132.‍1 comes into force, and every five years after that, the Minister shall prepare a report on any agreements that are in force, under negotiation or expired, and cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.

End of inserted block

R.‍S.‍, c. 31 (4th Supp.‍)

Official Languages Act

7The preamble of the Official Languages Act is amended by adding the following after the last paragraph:

Start of inserted block

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes that French is the official language of Quebec and the common language in Quebec;

End of inserted block

8Subsection 41(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Undertaking

Start of inserted block

(1.‍1)The Government of Canada undertakes not to obstruct the application in Quebec of the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11.

End of inserted block

Duty of federal institutions

(2)Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that positive measures are taken for the implementation of the commitments Insertion start and undertaking under subsections Insertion end (1) Insertion start and (1.‍1) Insertion end . For greater certainty, this implementation shall be carried out while respecting the jurisdiction and powers of the provinces Insertion start and, in Quebec, while respecting the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11 Insertion end .

9Section 43 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):

Implementation in Quebec

Start of inserted block

(1.‍1)Any measure referred to in subsection (1) shall be implemented, in Quebec, in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11.

End of inserted block

10Section 55 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 55(1) and is amended by adding the following:

Quebec

Start of inserted block

(2)In Quebec, the Commissioner shall carry out the duties and functions referred to in subsection (1) in a manner that does not obstruct the application of the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11.

End of inserted block

R.‍S.‍, c. C-44; 1994, c. 24, s. 1(F)

Canada Business Corporations Act

11Section 10 of the Canada Business Corporations Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

Exception

Start of inserted block

(3.‍1)Despite subsection (3), the name of a corporation that carries on business in the Province of Quebec shall meet the requirements of the Charter of the French Language, R.‍S.‍Q.‍, c. C-11.

End of inserted block
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons

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