CUPE Manitoba Welcomes Supreme Court Decision to Grant Labour Coalition Intervenor Status in Bill 137 Appeal

CUPE Manitoba Welcomes Supreme Court Decision to Grant Labour Coalition Intervenor Status in Bill 137 Appeal

WINNIPEG, TREATY 1 – This week, CUPE Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation were granted leave by the Supreme Court of Canada to intervene in the Court of Appeal case concerning Bill 137: The Education Amendment Act, 2023.

In addition to concerns about the pre-emptive invocation of the notwithstanding clause to protect the Bill from being struck down by the courts, CUPE remains concerned that the legislation harms youth and sets a model for overriding workers’ Charter rights in the future.

“This news from the Supreme Court of Canada recognizes the significance of this decision, which will impact children and workers well into the future,” said Kent Peterson, President of CUPE Saskatchewan. “The decision to grant our labour coalition intervenor status allows us to have a seat at the table as important stakeholders arguing for the protection of the rights of all Canadians.”

This move supports Premier Kinew’s approach to the notwithstanding clause, which requires all uses of the notwithstanding clause to be automatically referred to the Court of Appeal for an opinion on whether the law violates Charter rights.

“In Manitoba, we have a government putting reasonable constraints on the notwithstanding clause to protect Manitoba’s workers,” said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba and General Vice President for the Prairie Region. “In Saskatchewan, labour needs to take that government to court to protect their rights. That’s the difference between a government that works with workers and one that works against them, and between a government that protects trans kids and one that legislates against them.”

CUPE Manitoba applauds the collaboration and solidarity of the Saskatchewan Labour Coalition to fight for the rights of all Canadians through this Charter challenge. “We are in full support and will be there every step of the way to support the Coalition,” shared McKay.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than 800,000 members. In Manitoba, CUPE represents approximately 40,000 members working in health care facilities, personal care homes, home care, school divisions, municipal services, social services, disability support services, child care centres, public utilities, libraries, and family emergency services.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Dale Edmunds, CUPE Media Contact 204-915-7429