Federal Scientists Rally Against Bill C-39, Citing Threats to Science and Public Service Capacity — Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)

Event summary

Federal scientists and public-service professionals will rally in St. John's on October 2, 2026, to oppose Bill C-39, citing concerns over independent scientific judgment and public-service capacity.
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) represents over 80,000 public-sector professionals, most employed by the federal government.
The SP Group is currently in negotiations with the federal government and has chosen the conciliation/strike route amid concerns about cuts to public science and shrinking capacity.
Bryan Van Wilgenburg, President of PIPSC's Applied Science and Patent Examination Group, will speak about the impact of Bill C-39 on federal science and the risks of demanding more work with fewer resources.

The big picture

The rally highlights growing tensions between federal scientists and the government over Bill C-39, which aims to streamline approvals but risks undermining scientific independence and public-service capacity. This comes amid broader concerns about the government's demand for faster approvals without adequate resources, potentially impacting the quality of evidence-based decision-making. The PIPSC's decision to pursue the conciliation/strike route underscores the severity of the situation.

What we're watching

Governance Dynamics: How the federal government's response to the rally will affect future negotiations with public-sector unions.
Regulatory Headwinds: Whether Bill C-39 will lead to further erosion of scientific independence and evidence-based decision-making.
Execution Risk: The pace at which the federal government can address concerns about staffing and expertise in major-project reviews.