April 17, 2026 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Today's global landscape is shifting rapidly. Amid economic uncertainty and challenges for workers, industries and communities, the Government of Canada is relentlessly focused on building a strong, resilient economy and protecting Canadian jobs. Strong labour relations and modern tools that support them are critical to the stability of our country, economy and communities.
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and the Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour), announced the Government of Canada is launching consultations on ways to modernize the federal labour relations framework.
Employers and employer representatives, unions and employee groups and other key stakeholders will be asked to provide feedback on measures to strengthen labour relations and ensure workers are better protected and supported. Some of the measures the government is seeking feedback on include:
- adjusted timelines for collective bargaining;
- strengthening training supports for workers impacted by artificial intelligence and automation;
- updating workplace health and safety protections; and
- strengthening protections against misclassification and wage theft, and exploring options to ensure union rights carry over when contracts are retendered.
Consultations will happen in targeted virtual and in-person roundtables, and interested parties will be able to submit written feedback until May 18, 2026. The input gathered through this process will be published in a "What We Heard" report and carefully analyzed to inform policy decisions.
Building a strong economy and supporting workers now and into the future relies on a modern Labour Code that contains tools that workers and employers trust.
