“This year we’re calling on all governments to enforce the laws, including Westray provisions in the Criminal Code and occupational health and safety laws,” said North Bay and District Labour Council President Henri Giroux.
Every year on April 28, Labour Councils across the country host the Annual Day of Mourning, as a way to draw attention to the importance of safer and healthier work places in Canada. North Bay’s Day of Mourning will take place Sunday April 28, outside North Bay City, at 10:45. Everyone is welcome.
We implore governments and employers to invest in prevention, including strong health and safety committees. We call for a robust enforcement regime to enhance prevention through pro-active compliance inspections, and to punish those employers who refuse to fulfill their duty to ensure a safe workplace.
“Now is not the time to cut corners, like what Doug Ford is allowing in Ontario,” added Giroux.
“You can’t pull millions in Ministry of Labour funding and expect things to improve, we need quality training, better health and safety programs, and dedicated inspection professionals,” said Giroux. “This year we’re delighted to have Martha Hradowy as our official guest speaker.”
Martha is an Executive Officer with the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation. Before joining the executive team with OSSTF/FEESO, Martha worked as a Developmental Services Worker in Ontario’s publicly funded education system in the Windsor region. She understands the healthy and safety needs of classrooms in Ontario. Martha is also keenly aware of the healthy and safety regulations in Ontario and works tirelessly lobbying the provincial government about the growing necessity for increased training and staff specialization to address school-based violence.