--- title: "Activists protest Bill C-39 outside MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office" category: "Politics" published: "2026-11-13T21:25:13.991Z" source_reported: "2026-11-13T18:00:00.000Z" updated: "2026-11-13T21:25:13.991Z" trust_score: 48 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-14T02:00:15.679934+00:00" --- # Activists protest Bill C-39 outside MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office *Concerns raised over potential impacts on Indigenous rights, environmental law, and labour rights.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 48 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 9 digests provide details, but only one named source is quoted directly. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates activist concerns from government explanations and names affected parties. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is neutral and focuses on reporting the facts of the protest and the bill. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Activists protested Bill C-39 outside Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office on November 12. - The protest was part of a national day of action coordinated by 350Canada and local groups. - Concerns include potential infringements on Indigenous rights, environmental law, and labour rights. - The government states Bill C-39 aims to streamline federal approval processes for major economic projects to one year. Activists gathered outside the office of Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal on November 12 to protest Bill C-39, also known as the Build Canada Strong Act, as a final vote approached. The demonstration was part of a National Day of Action organized by 350Canada and other groups. Protesters expressed concerns that the legislation could negatively affect Indigenous rights, environmental laws, and labour rights. According to the Government of Canada, Bill C-39 is intended to strengthen the economy by modernizing federal labour relations and streamlining the approval process for major economic projects from over five years to one year. Nolen Scott, a BC Greens candidate, stated that the bill is geared towards corporations and billionaires rather than community needs like affordable housing. Scott also argued that the legislation could weaken environmental protections and increase benefits for oil and gas stakeholders. Shiva Olyaei, a professor of policy study at KPU, stated that the measures in Bill C-39 risk shifting power away from First Nations, workers, and affected communities. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) also expressed concerns in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on October 13, noting a lack of consultation and cooperation from the federal government. The UBCIC stated that the one-year review process is insufficient for major projects and called for a pause on the bill's development to allow for direct work with First Nations. MP Sukh Dhaliwal met with protesters for a closed-door discussion. He stated that Bill C-39 is not removing the right to strike but modernizing labour law for expediency. Dhaliwal also asserted that Indigenous rights are protected and that Indigenous people have been consulted. Protesters reported that Dhaliwal did not commit to voting against the bill. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mentioned the specific number of rallies held across the country on the National Day of Action, although 350Canada stated it was 65. The digests did not include the detail that MP Sukh Dhaliwal was the vice-chair of the special joint committee related to the foundation of Bill C-39. No centre- or right-rated outlet ran this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 100% (12) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-14T02:00:15.679934+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 21 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-14T02:30:13.902Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the activists' concerns regarding Bill C-39's potential impact on Indigenous rights, environmental law, and labour rights. They highlighted statements from Nolen Scott, who described the bill as favouring corporations and weakening environmental protections, and Shiva Olyaei, who warned of a power shift away from First Nations and workers. The reports also detailed the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs' concerns about a lack of consultation and the inadequacy of the proposed one-year review period for major projects. The full reports from Penticton Western News and Terrace Standard included direct quotes from Scott, Olyaei, Dhaliwal, and the UBCIC, as well as details about the protest and the MP's response. The digests from the other left-rated outlets summarized these key concerns. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Penticton Western News](https://pentictonwesternnews.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Terrace Standard](https://terracestandard.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Sooke News Mirror](https://sookenewsmirror.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Smithers Interior News](https://interior-news.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - The Interior News - Smithers BC - [Kitimat Northern Sentinel](https://northernsentinel.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - Northern Sentinel - [The Free Press](https://thefreepress.ca/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Peninsula News Review](https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Houston Today](https://houston-today.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [ominecaexpress.com](https://ominecaexpress.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - Vanderhoof Omineca Express - [grandforksgazette.ca](https://grandforksgazette.ca/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - [Caledonia Courier](https://caledoniacourier.com/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier - [crestonvalleyadvance.ca](https://crestonvalleyadvance.ca/2026/11/13/b-c-activists-rally-in-surrey-to-protest-build-canada-strong-act) — B.C. activists rally in Surrey to protest Build Canada Strong Act ## Questions **What is Bill C-39?** Bill C-39, also known as the Build Canada Strong Act, is legislation proposed by the Government of Canada. The government states it aims to streamline federal approval processes for major economic projects to one year and modernize the federal labour relations framework. Activists are concerned it could infringe on Indigenous rights, environmental law, and labour rights. **Why did activists protest outside MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office?** Activists rallied outside MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office on November 12 to protest Bill C-39. They are concerned the legislation will weaken environmental protections, infringe on Indigenous rights, and negatively impact labour rights. They urged him to reject the bill as a final vote neared. **What are the government's stated reasons for Bill C-39?** The Government of Canada states that Bill C-39 is intended to strengthen the Canadian economy. Its stated aims include modernizing the federal labour relations framework and streamlining the federal approval process for major economic projects, reducing the timeline from over five years to one year. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Activists protest Bill C-39 outside MP Sukh Dhaliwal's office", https://mediabias.news/politics/activists-protest-bill-c-39-outside-mp-sukh-dhaliwals-office