Federalism and Labour Policy in Canada

Abstract

Labour policy in Canada is primarily a provincial responsibility. The federal jurisdiction applies to only about ten per cent of the labour force and governs labour-management relations in a relatively small number of industries.' Provincial paramounty in labour policy-making is a result of the 1925 decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) in the case of Toronto Electric Commissioners v. Snider et al. The Committee declared the federal government's Industrial Disputes Investigation Act (IDIA) to be ultra vires the Parliament of Canada. It was the Committee's view that labour relations fell within the property and civil rights power of the provincial governments.