John Ivison: Carney throws the NDP a lifeline with his new labour bill - National Post

New Democratic Party leader Avi Lewis speaks during a press conference at Foyer of House of Commons at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /PostmediaArticle contentThere are signs of life in the NDP. The party’s support has crept up on cat’s paws since the last election, reaching double digits in some national polls in recent weeks.

On Monday, the Liberals threw New Democrats another lifeline, in the form of Bill C-39, the government’s omnibus Building Canada Strong Act.

New(ish) NDP Leader Avi Lewis looked like a man recalled to life as he held a press conference on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, flanked by a number of Canadian union leaders. It was just like old times for the NDP, which was shut out of Ontario in the last election, losing seats in union-heavy towns such as Hamilton, Windsor and London.

Lewis has taken the party further left than many of its traditional supporters feel comfortable with, taking hardline positions against Zionism, fossil fuel development and free enterprise.

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Channel Israel will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

But on Bill C-39, he is on solid ground for progressives.

“I understand there’s a little Carney-mania going on in the world,” Lewis told reporters. “People are very enamoured of the prime minister internationally and here in Canada. (But) we’re trusting this man with massive changes that will accelerate projects at the cost of Indigenous rights, at the cost of the environment, and at the cost of protections for workers, including the fundamental right to strike.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney described C-39 as “the most consequential economic legislation” of this session.

It will give Canada “the tools it needs to build more, better and more efficiently,” said Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon.

It is split into three parts and amends at least 17 existing acts.

Part one concerns regulatory changes that “modernize, simplify and reduce duplication” in the approvals process, and “provide certainty to those deploying capital, while maintaining strong environmental protections.” The goal is to provide proposed projects with one impact assessment that takes one year.

Part two concerns integrating transportation routes and making airports, ports and railyards more efficient.