Limits on employer union influence

C-259 Fair Representation Act: An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (fair representation)

Penalizes employers who control or influence unions and strips certification from affected unions.

What Bill C-259 would do

The bill would amend the Canada Labour Code to clarify what actions count as an employer, or someone acting for them, dominating or influencing a trade union. Any trade union that is dominated or influenced by an employer would lose its official certification. The bill would also establish penalties for employers who dominate or influence trade unions.

Official text (opens in a new tab)

Official summary

This enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to clarify what constitutes dominating or influencing a trade union by an employer, or a person acting on behalf of an employer, and to provide that any trade union that is so dominated or influenced will lose its certification. It also provides penalties to be imposed on employers who dominate or influence trade unions.

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind: Private member's bill
Sponsor: Heather McPherson, Member of Parliament (Edmonton Strathcona)
Introduced: January 27 in the House of Commons
Last activity: June 4

Where it stands

ProposedJan 27
Being debatedsince Jan 27
Almost law
Law

First debate in the House: 1 day so far

First reading in the House done January 27

Before the House on 1 sitting day, January 27
Second reading in the House now

Before the House on 1 sitting day, June 4 · 1 debate here
Committee in the House not yet
Report stage in the House not yet
Third reading in the House not yet
First reading in the Senate not yet
Second reading in the Senate not yet
Third reading in the Senate not yet
Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: At second reading in the House of Commons · since January 27, 2026.

House
1. First reading in the House: done, 2026-01-27
2. Second reading in the House: current stage
3. Committee in the House: not yet reached
4. Report stage in the House: not yet reached
5. Third reading in the House: not yet reached
Senate
1. First reading in the Senate: not yet reached
2. Second reading in the Senate: not yet reached
3. Third reading in the Senate: not yet reached
Royal assent
1. Royal assent: not yet reached

Debates in the House 1

Members who spoke: Conservative 2 Liberal 2 NDP 1 Bloc Québécois 1

Second reading 1

Fair Representation Act

2026-06-04 · Sitting 129 · 12 statements · 12 graded
6 members spoke
- Heather McPherson NDP A– statement 1, graded A–B statement 2, graded B A+ statement 3, graded A+A+ statement 4, graded A+
- Kevin Lamoureux Liberal C statement 1, graded C C+ statement 2, graded C+
- Kyle Seeback Conservative A+ statement 1, graded A+A statement 2, graded A
- Andréanne Larouche Bloc Québécois B statement 1, graded B A statement 2, graded A
- Alana Hirtle Liberal A statement 1, graded A
- Fred Davies Conservative A statement 1, graded A

Also raised in 1

Question Period, members' statements and other debates where the bill came up.

Show 1

Business of Supply

2026-10-08 · Government Orders · named 1 time

Discussion

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Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.