February 2, 2023
Hon. Seamus O’Regan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Labour
Email: Seamus.ORegan@parl.gc.ca
Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada
Email: ministerofisi-ministredeisi@ised-isde.gc.ca
Hon. Omar Alghabra, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport
Email: TC.MinisterofTransport-MinistredesTransports.TC@tc.gc.ca
Dear Ministers:
The proposal to introduce legislation on prohibiting replacement workers in federally regulated industries raises serious concern for Canadian business, including many that play an essential role in growing our economy and ensuring that our supply chains operate efficiently.
While we all respect and want to protect the right to collective bargaining, the proposed anti-replacement worker legislation goes too far and has the potential to destabilize our economy. It will disrupt the carefully-constructed balance we have built within our labour relations system, leading to more labour strife within key sectors of our economy. As a result, it threatens to cause major disruptions to already-fragile supply chains.
Though rarely used, replacement workers allow organizations in sectors like trucking, rail, ports, telecom, and air to provide a basic level of service that preserves critical services to Canadians. Eliminating the possibility of using replacement workers to maintain important services will provide an encouragement to strike rather than to bargain collectively, which raises the risk of significant damage to Canada’s economy and our reputation as a reliable place to do business, as well as compromising Canadians’ ability to receive the services they require. The data clearly demonstrate that, where replacement worker bans exist, there are more strikes, and they last longer.
Canadians are already feeling the serious effects of inflationary pressures in our economy. Any actions that would further disrupt supply chain processes will only raise costs more. These costs will in turn get passed down to Canadians. Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice for
investment and doing business relies on a resilient and reliable system, which a ban on replacement workers will severely undermine.
We urge you to put the interests of Canadians and of the Canadian economy first and reconsider the government’s plan to introduce this legislation. The Canadian economy – and Canadians – simply cannot afford it, nor does it create value for Canadians.
We would welcome an early opportunity to sit down with you to discuss the issue in more detail.
| Sincerely, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada | Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce |
| Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce | Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce |
| Amherst & Area Chamber of Commerce | Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce |
| Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce | Halifax Chamber of Commerce |
| Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce | Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce |
| Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce | Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada |
| Brampton Board of Trade | Killam and District Chamber of Commerce |
| Burin Peninsula Chamber of Commerce | Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce |
| Burnaby Board of Trade | Madoc & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Business Council of Manitoba | National Airline Council of Canada |
| Calgary Chamber of Commerce | Oakville Chamber of Commerce |
| Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums | Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Automobile Dealers’ Association | Orillia District Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Chamber of Commerce | Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Federation of Independent Business | Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Franchise Association | Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association | Railway Association of Canada |
| Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters | Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Meat Council | Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la capitale nationale |
| Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mégantic Region | Responsible Distribution Canada (RDC) |
| Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant | Restaurants Canada |
| Chamber of Commerce Niagara Falls, Canada | South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce |
| Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce | Surrey Board of Trade |
| Chemistry Industry Association of Canada | Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce | Temiskaming Shores & Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Conseil du patronat du Québec | The Board at the Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce |
| Dufferin Board of Trade | The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce |
