Canadian MPs vote to ban replacement workers with ‘anti-scab’ bill

Canada’s legislation banning some replacement workers, known as the “anti-scab” bill, has cleared its final vote in the House of Commons.

Bill C-58 seeks to ban the use of replacement workers if there’s a strike in a federally regulated workplace, a key part of the supply-and-confidence agreement between the Liberals and NDP.

The bill was adopted in the House of Commons with 317 votes in support from all parties, and no opposing votes. It will now head to the Senate.

“I think it is a real message to workers right across this country that they are valued and that parliamentarians have heard them, and that scab labour is wrong,” Labour Minister Seamus O’Reagan said following the bill’s passage.

“So, this is a big moment for workers in this country. It’s a big moment for labour. And we’re thrilled that it passed unanimously.”

“We hope that not only will we make sure this is banned at the federal level, but we can inspire provinces and territories to put in place similar legislation so that we can, once and for all, ban scab workers at every level across this country,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said ahead of question period Monday, flanked by members of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

“That’s our ultimate goal.”

Both British Columbia and Quebec have their own pieces of legislation banning the use of replacement workers on the books already.

O’Reagan said he has talked with the other provinces and territories about anti-scab legislation, but he doesn’t plan on putting forward too much overt pressure.

“You’re better to lead by example than necessarily hectoring provinces and territories. Best to show them that this works. And in fact, in B.C. and Quebec, it does work. So, we’ve learned an awful lot from those jurisdictions and it’s