Bank of Canada Governor Defends Hiring Outsiders Amid Security Staff Strike

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said the central bank used replacement security staff to protect its facilities during a strike, citing legal exceptions.

During a strike by security officers at the Bank of Canada, the institution hired contractors from Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations and Garda Canada Security Corporation, prompting the Canada Industrial Relations Board to rule the move a breach of the Canada Labour Code. Governor Tiff Macklem wrote to the Canadian Labour Congress president, claiming the bank had obeyed the board’s directives and that the use of replacements was justified under code provisions allowing action to prevent threats to life, health, safety, or property.

He emphasized the need for clear guidance on such exceptions. The Public Service Alliance of Canada demanded an end to the use of replacement workers and a return to negotiations. The Canadian Labour Congress, led by Bea Bruske, criticized the bank’s repeated non-compliance with recent anti-replacement legislation enacted in 2024. The dispute highlights tensions between federal labour law and the operational security of a key national institution.