Council of Labour Relations Executives (CLRE)

Labour Relations is a niche and contentious area.

You work to strengthen your union-management climate, manage negotiations, and navigate emerging labour relations trends.

Are you looking for peers to discuss your strategies?

Managing labour relations presents unique challenges. But whether your interest is in collective bargaining, union–employer relations, or tracking movements in Canada’s labour landscape, the Council of Labour Relations Executives (LRC) is your gateway to leading-edge research, networking, and insights.

Transform your union–management approach. Forge lasting relations with peers in the labour relations space. Join the LRC today.

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Who should join?

Senior executives who are responsible for their organization’s labour relations strategy and programs.

All LRC members operate on the employer side, which allows them to share successes and challenges in an open and candid environment. Members represent a wide variety of industries and sectors, both private and public.

Key objectives

Discuss major themes influencing collective bargaining in Canada—today and in the future
Establish a network of labour relations professionals from across the country to discuss concerns impacting bargaining and labour trends
Deliver member-driven sessions with Canada’s leading labour relations employers, unions, legal professionals, thought leaders, and academics

Benefits of membership

Networking

Connect with your peers in a confidential environment to exchange ideas, challenges, and labour relations strategies from an employer perspective.

Research

Stay current. Access our annual Labour Relations Outlook and stay up to date on top negotiating issues, insights on top priorities, and the collective bargaining environment in the coming year.

Sharing

Add your voice to our roundtable discussions—a fixture at every meeting—to share your most important labour issues with peers from across the country.

Current members

Alberta Health Services

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

Andrew Peller Limited

BC Hydro

BC Transit Corporation

Bell Canada

Boeing Canada Operations Ltd.

Bower Consulting Services Inc.

Canada Post Corporation

Canadian Blood Services

Canadian National Railway Company

Cargill Limited

Cenovus Energy Inc.

City of Saskatoon

Enbridge Gas Inc.

FETCO Inc.

GE Canada

Greater Toronto Airports Authority

Hydro-Québec

Imperial Oil Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited

McGill University

NAV CANADA

NB Power

NOVA Chemicals Corporation

Pratt & Whitney Canada

Purolator Inc.

Saputo Inc.

Seaspan ULC

SMS Equipment Inc.

TELUS Communications Inc.

The Ledcor Group of Companies

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

The University of British Columbia

University of Calgary

University of Ottawa

University of Saskatchewan

University of Toronto

University of Waterloo

VIA Rail Canada Inc.

WorkSafeBC

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

“The Conference Board of Canada do an amazing job through the Council of Labour Relations of both building a network of peers from across various industries, and providing them with forums and agendas on relevant, timely and critical matters that all labour relations executives face. The Conference Board of Canada nurture an environment which is collaborative, with open-sharing of information, and high caliber guest speakers in a setting which is both professional and enjoyable. ”

Client

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Member activity

Next session

February 23-24, 2022

Theme: Current Labour and Workplace Realities

David Mitchell, Partner, Transformation Business, Mercer

Toyin Akin-Johnson, Principal, Transformation Business, Mercer

Greg Conner, Vice-President, People and Culture

Laura MacDonald, Director, Talent, Volunteers & Labour Relations

Todd Weisberg, Partner, Shields, O'Donnell, MacKillop LLP

June 2022

Theme: TBC
(Agenda and speakers TBC)

Previous sessions

December 9, 2021

Theme: Panel Discussion on Mandatory Vaccination Policies

Speakers

Alan Bower, President and CEO Bower Consulting Services
Julie O'Donnell, Partner, Shields O'Donnell MacKillop LLP
Brandin O'Connor, Partner, Shields O'Donnell MacKillop LLP
Ernie Schirru, Partner, Koskie Minsky LLP

October 27-28, 2021

Theme:Outlook for 2022

Speakers

Linda Allen-Hardisty, President, Allen-Hardisty Leadership Group
Mark Edgar, Co-Founder, tuture foHRward
Naomi Titleman, Co-Founder, tuture foHRward

Recent themes

Outlook for 2022
COVID-19 vaccinations
The impact of COVID on disability management and related leave programs at Canada post
Leading through disruption: The power of authenticity

Advisory board

Alan K. Bower (Chair)

President and Chief Executive Officer
Bower Consulting Services Inc.

Greg Conner

Vice-President of People and Culture
BC Transit Corporation

Anita ReMartinez

Manager, Human Resources
ExxonMobil Canada, Imperial

Recent releases and events

Compensation Planning Outlook Survey 2023

Each year, the Conference Board’s Compensation Planning Outlook delivers a trusted forecast for Canadian compensation and HR professionals. This report provides organizations with compensation and total rewards data that allow them to benchmark with other companies across the country. These data can reveal insights into compensation trends, allowing organizations to remain competitive and able to attract, recruit, and retain talent amid nationwide labour shortages.

Online experience | 8-min read
Deadline: June 20, 2022

C-Suite Challenge: Canadian Leadership Perceptions on Hybrid Work

After two years of working remotely, many workers are reluctant to return to the office full-time, with most demanding at least some flexibility in where and when they work. As public health measures begin to lift, many employers are beginning to design and implement their return-to-the-office policies, with many choosing or considering a hybrid work model.

Issue briefing | 9-min read
April 13, 2022

Free for members

The Bargaining Environment in 2022: Labour Relations Outlook

After more than a year of unprecedented challenges, Canada's economy is starting to recover. Employment has returned to pre-pandemic levels and wages are improving. But how will fiscal uncertainty, labour shortages, and growing unionization affect labour relations in 2022?

Online experience | 8-min read
February 15, 2022

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