'Decades-long fight': MPs unanimously pass 'anti-scab' legislation
CTV
A bill that would ban federal employers from using replacement workers or 'scabs' during lockouts or strikes passed the House of Commons unanimously on Monday.
A bill that would ban federal employers from using replacement workers or "scabs" during lockouts or strikes passed the House of Commons unanimously on Monday.
MPs from all parties voted in favour of the so-called "anti-scab" legislation, seeing it pass 316-0.
Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan tabled the labour legislation in November 2023, satisfying a commitment under the minority Liberals' confidence-and-supply deal with the NDP.
Unveiling Bill C-58 – backed by MPs and union representatives – the minister framed the move as "the biggest thing to happen to collective bargaining in Canada, in decades," and braced for resistance from the Conservatives that did not materialize.
On Monday, O'Regan welcomed the all-party backing.
"It's not necessary, but I think on historic legislation like this, it's certainly very, very welcome," he said. "And I think it is a real message to workers right across this country, that they are valued and that parliamentarians have heard them."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet cast their votes "yea" virtually, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh voted in-favour, in-person.
