Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 27 JUNE 2017

Federal Government Restores Former Certification And Decertification Processes For Unionization In Federal Workplaces

McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Contributor
McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault LLP provides a broad range of legal services, delivering strategic and...

View firm profile
Explore more from McCarthy Tétrault

Three years ago, the Federal Government passed the Employees' Voting Rights Act, which reformed the Canada Labour Code's certification and decertification rules for federally regulated workplaces.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Ontario Employer Advisor
Ontario Employer Advisor
Tim Lawson
Tim Lawson
Justine Lindner
Justine Lindner
Akiva Stern
Akiva Stern
Author LinkedIn connections

Three years ago, the Federal Government passed the Employees' Voting Rights Act, which reformed the Canada Labour Code's certification and decertification rules for federally regulated workplaces.

The most significant change was the removal of the 50 year old "card check" system. Card check allowed a union to be automatically certified without a vote when it could demonstrate that the majority of the employees in the proposed bargaining unit has signed membership cards and paid a nominal fee.

The other change was lowering the threshold for support for decertification from 50% +1 to 40%.

In Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act, the current Federal Government has reversed those changes.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

WorkSafeBC Proposes Changes To Laws Regarding Workplace Harassment And Violence

WorkSafeBC is proposing significant amendments to British Columbia's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how employers address workplace harassment, violence, and psychological health. The proposed changes introduce expanded definitions, new prevention program requirements, and obligations to identify and control psychosocial hazards. These amendments could require most B.C. employers to substantially revise their existing workplace policies and procedures.
CanadaEmployment and HR
Cassels
Cassels
Article

Bill C-39: Big Changes Are Coming To Federal Workplace Rules

The federal government has tabled Bill C-39, introducing sweeping reforms to the Canada Labour Code that will fundamentally reshape union negotiations, dispute resolution, and workplace enforcement for federally regulated employers. These changes, stemming from extensive public consultations with over 26,000 responses, grant new ministerial powers while expanding government enforcement capacity by 70% through the hiring of 100 additional health and safety officers.
CanadaEmployment and HR
Torkin Manes LLP
Torkin Manes LLP
Article

Tariffs, Terminations And EI: Implications Of Canada’s New Support Package For Employers

Canada's federal government has announced a $3.5 billion rapid response support package in anticipation of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, introducing new temporary employment insurance measures and workforce retention programs. The package extends EI benefits, waives waiting periods, and creates funding opportunities for employers to retain and retrain workers rather than implement large-scale layoffs.
CanadaEmployment and HR
Siskinds LLP
Siskinds LLP
Article

Federal Government Removes Certain Energy Projects From The Impact Assessment Act Project List

The Canadian government has removed seven types of energy projects from federal impact assessment requirements, shifting review responsibilities to the Canada Energy Regulator and provincial processes. This regulatory change affects pipelines, electrical transmission lines, oil sands facilities, and power plants, fundamentally altering how major energy infrastructure projects will be evaluated and approved across Canada.
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Gloves Off: Canada Answers U.S. Section 338 Tariffs Dollar-for-Dollar As Washington Escalates With Import Bans

Canada and the United States have entered a new phase of trade conflict, with Canada implementing retaliatory surtaxes on C$27.6 billion of U.S. goods while the United States escalates beyond tariffs to outright import prohibitions on Canadian alcohol, dairy products, and motorcycles. The dispute now extends into government procurement policy, raising questions about compliance strategies and supply chain restructuring as both nations tighten customs enforcement.
CanadaInternational Law
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Productivity Mega Deduction: Key Tax Measures Announced At The Canada Investment Summit

Canada has introduced a permanent Productivity Mega Deduction allowing immediate expensing of up to 100% of eligible capital property costs and Canadian development expenses acquired after September 15, 2026. This measure aims to boost business investment and strengthen Canada's tax competitiveness by expanding immediate expensing eligibility from 15% to approximately two-thirds of capital investments, while reducing the country's marginal effective tax rate to 6.4%.
CanadaTax
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Canada Commits To Airport Privatization Through Long-Term Concessions For Its Four Largest Airports

The Canadian federal government has announced a firm commitment to privatize operations at the country's four largest airports through long-term concessions, marking a decisive shift from earlier exploratory discussions. Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that while the government will retain ownership of airport lands and assets following the Australian leased-airport model, private investment will be sought to operate Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal-Trudeau, and Calgary international airports.
CanadaTransport
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Continued Regulatory Reform: Canada’s First Project Of National Interest And Bill C-39

The Canadian government has designated the Pacific Link Pipeline as a project of national interest and introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, which proposes sweeping reforms to federal environmental assessment and project approval processes. These changes aim to streamline permitting timelines, reduce regulatory duplication, and coordinate Crown consultations while maintaining environmental protections and Indigenous rights.
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault