FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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 |
| Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce |
| Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce |
| Amherst & Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce |
| Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Brampton Board of Trade |
| Burin Peninsula Chamber of Commerce |
| Burnaby Board of Trade |
| Business Council of Manitoba |
| Business Council of Manitoba |
| Calgary Chamber of Commerce |
| Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums |
| Canadian Automobile Dealers’ Association |
| Canadian Chamber of Commerce |
| Canadian Federation of Independent Business |
| Canadian Franchise Association |
| Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association |
| Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters |
| Canadian Meat Council |
| Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mégantic Region |
| Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant |
| Chamber of Commerce Niagara Falls, Canada |
| Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce |
| Chemistry Industry Association of Canada |
| Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce |
| Conseil du patronat du Québec |
| Dufferin Board of Trade |
| Eastern PEI Chamber of Commerce |
| Edmonton Chamber of Commerce |
| Electro-Federation Canada |
| Fertilizer Canada |
| FETCO |
| Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce |
| Freight Management Association of Canada |
| Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce |
| Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce |
| Halifax Chamber of Commerce |
| Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce |
| Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada |
| Killam and District Chamber of Commerce |
| Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce |
| Madoc & District Chamber of Commerce |
| National Airline Council of Canada |
| Oakville Chamber of Commerce |
| Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Orillia District Chamber of Commerce |
| Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce |
| Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce |
| Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Railway Association of Canada |
| Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la capitale nationale |
| Responsible Distribution Canada (RDC) |
| Restaurants Canada |
| South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce |
| Surrey Board of Trade |
| Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce |
| Temiskaming Shores & Area Chamber of Commerce |
| The Board at the Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce |
| The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce |
| The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton |
| The Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce |
| The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce |
| The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce |
| Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce |
| Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce |
| Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce |
| West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce |
| West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce |
| Western Grain Elevator Association |
| Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce |
| Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce |
For more information from the Barrie Chamber, please reach out to:
--
Paul Markle
Executive Director
121 Commerce Park Drive, Unit A
Barrie, Ontario L4N 8X1
(O) 705 - 721 - 5000 ext. 5
(C) 249-288-3540
Paul@Barriechamber.com