Liberal Statement on National Day of Mourning

April 28, 2013

GLACE BAY, NS– Liberal Human Resources and Skills Development and Labour critic Rodger Cuzner made the following statement today on the National Day of Mourning:

“Every year, April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning to commemorate all those who have been injured or killed as a result of workplace accidents and hazards.

Over 1,000 Canadians lose their lives every year due to occupational injury or illness. That’s almost three people every workday – three people who leave for work in the morning, kiss their families goodbye, and never come home.

On May 9, 1992, 26 miners left for work at the Westray Mine in Nova Scotia and never came home again; lax safety protocols, poor oversight and mismanagement resulted in an explosion that took their lives and left an entire province in mourning. The Westray disaster led to Bill C-45, which amended the Criminal Code in 2004 to impose criminal negligence liability on employers.

Nevertheless, there is still much more to be done to identify and prevent hazardous work situations before they occur.

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I offer my sympathies to all Canadians who continue to suffer from illness or injury, or who have lost a loved one in the workplace, and recommit to improving the work environment for all Canadians.”