Special Bulletin: Employer Response to the Union-led Advisory Table Final Report: 7/23/2025

In the 2022 federal budget, the Government of Canada announced that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) would form a Union-Led Advisory Table to elicit labour leaders' insights and recommendations for helping workers navigate the changing labour market. In December 2023, the Advisory Table convened its first meeting. Members agreed on October 31, 2024, as the deadline to deliver on their mandate. The Advisory Table, chaired by Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske, convened a minimum of once per month, receiving presentations from economists, policy analysts and experts in a range of relevant fields, industry sectors and occupations.

The Advisory Table's Secretariat, housed within ESDC, provided administrative, logistical and strategic support and guidance. Advisory Table members agreed to advise ESDC in support of mandate priorities for the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages and for the Minister of Labour and Seniors. Specifically, the Advisory Table's mandate was to inform the Government's skills and future of work agenda and foster a Canadian workforce that can contribute to Canada's long-term economic success by helping workers upgrade their current skillsets for future jobs and sectors. This mandate included providing advice on actions and priorities for supporting skilled, mid-career workers affected by industry transitions.

In February 2025, the Union-Led Advisory Table released the document: Unions Power Prosperity: A report from the Union-Led Advisory Table. The attached paper provides an employer-led response to several of the recommendations made in that report.

Businesses, workers, and government working together is a proven combination to achieve shared growth and prosperity, higher living standards, and higher productivity. Excluding one party from the policy development process will lead to poorer outcomes. We offer this response to the Union-led Advisory Table Report to ensure balance and an accurate reflection of labour market realities. 

Thank you,

Executive Assistant - Commissioner for Employers

Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) - Employment & Social Development Canada

josiane.manishimwe@servicecanada.gc.ca T: (819) 230 -7536