Surrey protesters rally against Bill C-39 at Sukh Dhaliwal's office
Protesters say Dhaliwal gave no direct answer on how he would vote. The bill passed second reading 296 to 26 on Oct. 8.
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Activists gathered outside Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office on Nov. 12 to protest Bill C-39, the Build Canada Strong Act, and to demand that he reject it.
The Surrey rally was one of 65 held across Canada that day, according to 350Canada, which coordinated a National Day of Action with local groups.
Protesters said Dhaliwal met them in a closed meeting of about 30 minutes and gave no direct yes-or-no answer on whether he would vote against C-39 if opposition grew. Dhaliwal was vice-chair of the special joint committee on the Building Canada Act (Bill C-5), which is the foundation of C-39.
Bill C-39 passed second reading in the House of Commons on Oct. 8, with Conservative support, and is now at committee. The government says it would require federal reviews and decisions on major projects to be completed within one year of a comprehensive application, down from more than five years, and would add health and safety officers and change Canada Labour Code collective bargaining rules. The government says the bill would "protect the right to strike."
Nolen Scott, the BC Greens candidate for Surrey-Panorama, co-organized the only Surrey-based protest against the bill. Scott calls it an omnibus bill that greatly expands government power and undermines the right to strike and weakens environmental protections. "It's going to directly impact tons of the union workers who make Surrey their home," Scott said.
Shiva Olyaei, a KPU policy studies professor, says the bill would shorten federal review timelines, widen cabinet power to designate regions of national interest, and change rules on ministerial intervention in federally regulated labour disputes. She assesses that these measures risk shifting power away from First Nations, federally regulated workers and other affected communities.
Abram Benedict, Ontario Regional Chief of the Chiefs of Ontario, said the predictability sought by major-project proponents "cannot come at the expense of First Nations' rights."
Will Dhaliwal say how he intends to vote on C-39 on the record?
What does the government say about the Indigenous rights and labour concerns raised by protesters?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
