Airline executives welcome Bill C-39 as unions strongly oppose it
Airline executives have told MPs that they welcome federal legislation aimed at reducing how often major labour disruptions occur. Three of them testified at committee hearings on the bill, known as Bill C-39. They were Mike Abbott, Air Canada's vice-president of labour relations, Irene Chrisanthopoulos, Air Transat's senior director of labour relations and negotiations, and Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet's chief executive.
Von Hoensbroech said the bill will help make Canada more attractive to investors. He said labour stability is one of the main things international investors look at. Air Canada and WestJet have both faced shutdowns in recent years because of labour strikes, and Air Transat narrowly avoided a pilot strike last year, according to The Globe and Mail.
The bill would change how Ottawa responds to disputes in federally regulated workplaces, which include the airlines. Under the current rules, Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code lets the responsible minister end a strike or lockout by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board, an independent tribunal, to order workers back to their jobs. The Building Canada Strong Act proposes changes to that section.
Under Bill C-39, a new mediation process would apply before Ottawa can intervene in a bargaining dispute. A special mediator would work with the employer and the union for 21 days when talks reach an impasse, meaning they are stuck. If the dispute is still unresolved, the mediator would write a report. The minister would have to evaluate that report before stepping in.
The bill also aims to speed up approvals for major projects such as pipelines or transmission lines. It references changes to nearly two dozen federal laws, according to The Globe and Mail.
In introducing the bill, the federal government said a longer conciliation period would give the parties more time to reach negotiated settlements before a dispute escalates to a strike or lockout. The federal government made that case in its own description of the legislation.
Labour union leaders told the same committee they strongly oppose Bill C-39. They said it will curtail workers' right to strike and will ultimately be challenged in court.
The debate comes after a major dispute at Air Canada. A strike and lockout involving the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees began on August 16, 2025.
