Manitoba government plans to end restriction on labour agreements for big projects

The Manitoba government is planning to lift a ban on project labour agreements — deals that require non-unionized workers on large projects to be governed by the same rules and benefits as their unionized counterparts.

Labour Minister Maya Marcelino introduced a bill Wednesday that would, if passed, repeal a ban enacted by the former Progressive Conservative government.

"It's going to mean that we're going to be able to have major projects done on time and within budget," she said.

But the Opposition Tories said the move by the NDP government would drive up costs, in part by dissuading non-union companies from bidding for work.