Key economic bill clears first vote in House of Commons

A key piece of economic legislation, Bill C-39, has passed its first vote in the House of Commons and the 243-page bill will now be studied by a special committee.

The bill proposes giving the government more powers to fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest” and making changes to the Canada Labour Code to reduce the number of labour disruptions in federally regulated sectors.

The Conservatives voted with the Liberals on the legislation, though leader Pierre Poilievre said his party will table several amendments at committee.

Poilievre said he wants the government to speed up the decision timeline on projects to between six months and a year, and to add measures to protect workers’ rights.

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NDP Leader Avi Lewis said earlier in the day this bill should be scrapped because it threatens the right to strike and does not uphold the government’s constitutional duty to consult Indigenous communities on projects in their territory and get full prior, informed consent.

The government has insisted it will uphold its treaty obligations and says the proposed changes put guardrails on the ability of the jobs minister to intervene in a labour dispute.