Bill C-39 at committee: what the Building Canada Strong Act would change for trucking

Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, is now before both a House of Commons legislative committee and a special Senate committee, and trucking groups are lining up to shape it. On November 9 the Canada Truck Operators Association said its written brief had been accepted by the House committee and sent to the Senate committee, according to a CTOA release.

The bill is long and covers ports, permits and labour law. Here is what it would do for motor carriers, based on the Library of Parliament's legislative summary dated October 19, 2026.

1. A National Trade Corridors Council

Clause 198 adds a "Trade Corridors" section to the Canada Transportation Act. The Minister of Transport could designate any geographic area as a trade corridor and set up a National Trade Corridors Council.

• Members would be appointed by the minister for renewable terms of up to three years.
• The Council would monitor the movement of goods in designated corridors, analyze disruptions and advise the minister.
• Cabinet could set performance indicators and targets for the corridors by regulation.

CTOA wants amendments to sections 49.03 and 49.05 so that small and mid-sized fleets and owner-operators get a direct seat on the Council, plus an annual public report. It also wants corridor performance measures to count border and inspection times, port and rail terminal waits, detention, truck parking, cargo theft and empty repositioning.

2. No more federal merger notice for truck carriers

Today, parties to certain large transactions involving a transportation undertaking must notify the Minister of Transport as well as the Commissioner of Competition. Clause 201 would exempt undertakings that move freight by truck or passengers by bus from that ministerial notice. Separately, the notice requirement would be extended to certain transactions involving transportation undertakings located in ports.

3. Electronic trade documents

Division 8 enacts the Enabling Digital Trade Act. It gives electronic trade documents, such as bills of lading and warehouse receipts, the same legal effect as paper ones when a reliable method is used to identify the holder, establish control and protect the record from alteration. Nobody would be forced to use electronic documents without consent, but consent can be inferred from conduct.

4. Wage recovery for federally regulated employers

Part 3 amends the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated private sector employers, which includes interprovincial trucking. Among the changes:

• A new settlement enforcement order that can require an employer, or in some cases a corporate director, to pay outstanding amounts.
• Wider grounds for orders to debtors, which can require a third party who owes the employer money to pay it directly to the Head of Compliance and Enforcement.