Question Period Notes
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Oil Tanker Moratorium Act
What is Canada’s legislative approach to eradicating forced labour from international supply chains? The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of upholding human rights, including international labour standards, in global supply chains.
Addressing forced labour requires a coordinated, whole of government approach, which involves federal departments and agencies such as Global Affairs Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Public Safety Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada’s Labour Program.
Canada partners with the International Labour Organization and other partners to provide technical assistance to help countries uphold and enforce fundamental labour rights, including eliminating forced and child labour.
Over the past five years, this has included more than $18 million in projects funded in countries such as Mexico, Jordan, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, among others.
Canada also has other federal measures in place to combat exploitation in supply chains. These include the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act—administered by Public Safety Canada—and a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour, enforced by CBSA.
[Responsive on the import ban on goods produced with forced labour, potential legislative changes, or proposals such as Bill C-251 An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff (forced labour and child labour)]
Global Affairs Canada coordinates policy direction to federal departments involved in the operationalisation of the import ban.
The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for enforcement of the import ban on goods produced using forced labour.
Federal departments will continue to work collaboratively – and with domestic and international partners - to address exploitation in global supply chains.
The 2025-26 Supplementary Estimates C includes $63.75 million in additional transfers for PrairiesCan.
In December 2017, the Government of Canada launched an open and transparent competition to permanently replace the fighter fleet with 88 advanced jets - the Future Fighter Capability Project.
Note:
- all questions related to capability, technical issues, deliveries and requirements, in-service support costs, including the complete life-cycle costs, Auditor General Report on the F-35 entry into service, and current review of the F-35 acquisition should be answered by the Minister of National Defence
- all questions related to the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy should be answered by the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
- all questions related to trade issues should be answered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or Ministers responsible for Canada-US Trade
In December 2017, the Government of Canada launched an open and transparent competition to permanently replace the fighter fleet with 88 advanced jets - the Future Fighter Capability Project.
Note:
- all questions related to capability, technical issues, deliveries and requirements, in-service support costs, including the complete life-cycle costs, Auditor General Report on the F-35 entry into service, and current review of the F-35 acquisition should be answered by the Minister of National Defence
- all questions related to the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy should be answered by the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
- all questions related to trade issues should be answered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or Ministers responsible for Canada-US Trade
Incorporated drivers in the trucking industry are at times misclassified by employers as independent contractors, rather than employees, to avoid obligations under the Canada Labour Code. The road transportation industry has more than 8,000 federally regulated employers, and 260,000 employees. According to Labour Force Survey data, there are approximately 31,800 incorporated self-employed truck drivers without employees in the federally regulated road transportation industry.
Since its inception in April 2023 to December 24, 2025, the Labour Program’s National Misclassification Team has undertaken over 860 inspections and 546 education activities with carriers in the federally regulated road transportation sector.
The Misclassification Team has obtained voluntary agreement from more than 80% of employers inspected, and found not to be complying with the rules, to properly classify their drivers as employees. Employers who did not cooperate with Labour Program inspectors or did not come into compliance, have been issued Compliance Orders (CO) and Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs).
As of December 24, 2025, the Labour Program has issued 37 Compliance Orders and 28 AMPs to address misclassification in the road transportation sector.
The Misclassification Team also collaborates with federal and provincial partner agencies to raise awareness about misclassification among truck drivers at commercial motor vehicle inspection stations (weigh stations) across Canada.
Since late 2024, joint operations have taken place at weigh stations in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Within the joint operations, the Labour Program seeks to educate drivers about misclassification and their rights under the Code and gather information on employers who may be misclassifying workers.
These enforcement activities are often undertaken in partnership with other federal departments, such as the CRA, and provincial regulatory agencies, including workers’ compensation boards.
IRCC’s use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
As part of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) implementation of the modernized Broadcasting Act, online streaming services were ordered to contribute 1.5 percent of their Canadian revenues to the Independent Local News Fund to support the creation of local news by independent television stations. Those contributions have been stayed by the Federal Court of Appeals due to litigation challenging the CRTC’s decision. As a result, the Fund’s administrator and independent television stations, that rely on the Fund’s help to produce news, have reached out to the Government for time limited interim support until the Court renders its decision.
Budget 2025 set out direction for the public service flowing from the Comprehensive Expenditure Review – reducing inefficiency, focusing on core priorities, and adjusting its size.Through Budget 2025, ESDC funding is being reduced by $780.5 million by 2028-2029 and ongoing. Funds for the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) are being reduced by $0.9 million by 2028-29 and ongoing.
ESDC savings targets were assigned based on 2025-26 Main Estimates levels. As part of the Department’s commitment to fiscal sustainability, ESDC is planning the following reductions:
$156.8 million in 2026-27
$519.8 million in 2027-28
$780.5 million in 2028-29
In total, 5,313 positions are being eliminated at ESDC, plus 98 executive positions.
More specifically, as it relates to workforce adjustment, 3,028 indeterminate employees have received affected letters, which will result in a reduction of 931 positions, plus 39 executive positions that will be reduced through career transition. The remaining positions will be eliminated through a combination of attrition and by ending term contracts. All affected employees have been informed.
ESDC is unable to provide details for some programming elements at this time as reduction plans remain under discussion and have yet to be confirmed.
Will such referrals be made to resolve future disputes? Why did the Government make referrals under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end disputes and remove workers’ right to strike?Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code (the Code) gives the Minister of Labour authority to help maintain stable labour relations in Canada. It allows the Minister to take actions considered necessary to preserve industrial peace and to promote conditions favourable to the settlement of labour disputes. To achieve these goals, the Minister may also refer questions to the Canada Industrial Relations Board or direct the Board to take specific actions when needed.
Section 107 can be used in various ways. Previous ministers of Labour have asked the Board questions that are necessary to resolve disputes, such as whether a particular collective agreement is in force, and clarifying the associated details (e.g., which bargaining units are covered by the agreement and its expiry date). Ministers have also used section 107 to end strikes and lockouts by directing the Board to order that operations and duties resume, impose binding arbitration, and extend the term of the collective agreement.
Section 107 of the Code was used eight times in 2024 and one time in 2025.
Most recently, section 107 was used on August 16, 2025, when a work stoppage began at Air Canada during the labour dispute between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Airline Division.
Unions have challenged the section 107 referrals, and the Board’s related orders, that ended strikes and lockouts in 2024 and 2025. The challenges are proceeding before the Federal Courts. It is not known when decisions will be rendered.
On October 6, 2025, MP Leah Gazan of the New Democratic Party introduced Bill C-247, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code. The Bill proposes to repeal section 107 of the Code entirely. Ms. Gazan is 39th on the list of consideration for private members’ business, meaning that Bill C-247 currently falls outside the Order of Precedence.
The replenishment of the Order of Precedence is expected in winter/spring 2026 (TBC).