Pursuant to notice of October 7, 2025, moved:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on maintenance of activities or essential services in the federally regulated rail and marine sectors in the case of labour disruptions;

That, in particular, the committee should examine:

(a)how “immediate and serious danger to the safety or health of the public” is applied when determining when work is considered essential under section 87.4 of the Canada Labour Code, and the circumstances under which certain activities must be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout;

(b)the impacts of labour disruptions on users of federally regulated rail and marine networks, on Canadian consumers, and on Canada’s supply chains;

(c)in light of these impacts, whether the transportation of certain goods on federally regulated transportation networks should be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout;

(d)the recent use by the Minister of Labour of section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to refer labour disputes in federally regulated transportation sectors to the Canada Industrial Relations Board in order to maintain or secure industrial peace; and

(e)the use of section 107 of the Canada Labour Code by the Minister — instead of “back to work” legislation passed by both Houses of Parliament — as a means to end a labour disruption;

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 26, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.