Industrial Relations Legislation in Canada

Private Sector

This page contains a description of the jurisdiction of the federal government and the provinces and territories in the field of industrial relations, a summary of the major provisions of the industrial relations laws of general application (not including construction) in each jurisdiction, and synoptic charts on legislative provisions dealing with certain major collective bargaining issues.

This documentation is not intended to be a substitute for the relevant federal or provincial statutes governing private sector collective bargaining. Users are reminded that it is prepared for convenience only and that, as such, it has no official sanction. Users are therefore advised to consult the actual texts of the statutes whose summary is made available here.

Please click here for any comments or suggestions regarding the labour law information available on this site.

Recent and historic changes to industrial relations legislation

Summary of General Private Sector Collective Bargaining Legislation   (If you wish to print these summaries, please use legal size ( 8½ x 14 ) paper and the landscape format.)

• Jurisdiction of the federal government and the provinces/territories PDF Document)
• Federal (PDF Document)
• Alberta (PDF Document)
• British Columbia (PDF Document)
• Manitoba (PDF Document)
• New Brunswick (PDF Document)
• Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF Document)
• Nova Scotia (PDF Document)
• Ontario (PDF Document)
• Prince Edward Island (PDF Document)
• Quebec (PDF Document)
• Saskatchewan (PDF Document)

Synoptic Charts on Legislation Pertaining to Certain Major Collective Bargaining Issues  (If you wish to print the files below, please use ( 8½ x 11) paper.)

• Trade Union Application for Certification (PDF Version)
• Third Party Intervention in Collective Bargaining Disputes (PDF Document)
• Strike Vote, Strike/Lockout Notice, Check-off of Union Dues and Ratification Vote (PDF Document)

Public and Parapublic Sectors  (If you wish to print the PDF file below, please use ( 8½ x 11) paper.)

In Canada, employees in the public or parapublic sector, such as federal, provincial or territorial public servants, hospital employees, teachers, police officers and firefighters are often covered by special industrial relations laws. Below is a chart showing the collective bargaining dispute resolution process applicable to each public or parapublic sector group in the different jurisdictions.

• Collective bargaining dispute resolution process in the public and parapublic sectors (PDF Document)

Statutes governing collective bargaining for:

• Public Servants
• Hospital Employees
• Teachers
• Police
• Firefighters

Ad Hoc Emergency Laws and Orders
(Record of emergency legislative measures aimed at ending or preventing certain strikes and/or lockouts)
(If you wish to print the PDF files below, please use ( 8½ x 11) paper.)

• Federal Ad Hoc Emergency Legislation (PDF Version)
• Provincial Ad Hoc Emergency Legislation (PDF Version)
• Orders Suspending the Right to Strike or to Lock out (PDF Version)

Click on http://www.canlii.org/ to have access to federal, provincial and territorial statutes.