Green Party warns Bill C-39 would weaken environment, labour rights

The Green Party of Canada says proposed federal legislation would dismantle environmental protections, undermine Indigenous rights and threaten workers’ right to strike. Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, would give the federal government unprecedented powers to accelerate major projects with reduced oversight, the party warned. The bill passed second reading in the House of Commons on Oct. 8 and has been referred to a special legislative committee for further study. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said she was denied a request to serve on that committee.

“Bill C-39 is the omnibus of omnibuses, a heavy-handed attempt to maximize untrammelled executive power at the expense of our environment and democratic process,” said May. The bill proposes changes to 20 federal laws, including legislation governing environmental assessments, major projects approvals and labour relations. Among its provisions, it would repeal the five-year sunset clause established under a previous bill, allowing extraordinary cabinet powers to remain in place. The legislation would also introduce “regions of national interest” and further weaken the environment minister’s authority over conditions attached to major projects, May said. These changes raise concerns about Indigenous consultation, particularly when projects are already designated as being in the national interest. “You can’t have free and prior consent because once they’ve made the decision that a project is in the national interest, every further decision is deemed to be made in furtherance of the project,” said May. “Where is there a consultation that’s meaningful at all?”

Environmental organizations including Environmental Defence, the David Suzuki Foundation and West Coast Environmental Law have also warned the bill would weaken protections for wildlife, biodiversity and the climate. “They’re calling it the bulldoze nature bill,” said Green Party leadership candidate Mike Morrice. “And they are working together to amplify the concerns of Canadians who are seeing what is being bulldozed, which is wildlife protections, which is nature, which is climate protections that benefit us all and our biodiversity in this country, all of which being pushed to the side in Bill C-39.” The legislation has drawn criticism from the labour movement over proposed changes to the Canada Labour Code. Morrice said the Canadian Labour Congress has called the bill an attack on the right to strike, despite some elements fought for by unions. “It’s not only Elizabeth May and others who are raising the alarm on Bill C-39. It’s the labour movement in this country,” said Morrice. He noted the congress has said that while the bill includes protections around wage theft and successor rights, it overall undermines labour rights.

May criticized the parliamentary review process after her request to serve on the special legislative committee was denied. “I should have been on the special committee because there is no rule that precludes members of Parliament from non-recognized parties serving on special committees,” said May. “I did ask all party leaders and PROC and the Speaker to be added to the Special Legislative Committee studying Bill C-39. They said no.” Despite being excluded, May still intends to present amendments to the legislation. The Green Party said it will continue to urge all parliamentarians, including those in the Liberal caucus, to hold the government accountable. The party says the bill demands thorough scrutiny and public input given its scope.

With files from Green Party Of Canada