Over the span of ten years, statistics show approximately 3,277 workers have been killed in Ontario. From what we know of WSIB statistics, the real projections would be around ten to thirteen per cent higher. Imagine a drunk driver killing at least six people every single week in Ontario. It would dominate headlines. It would trigger enforcement campaigns. It would be treated as a public emergency.
Instead, it is called work. And employers get away with murder.
Three to four thousand workers killed is the equivalent of a whole town. Merrickville, Ontario has a population of around 3,200 people. Blind River, Ontario has a population of around 3,600. A community’s worth of people being killed is a crisis.
We use the word ‘killed’ intentionally, because until there is a criminal investigation launched into the death, we don’t know if it was a so-called “accident”, or because of criminal negligence by the employer. In other words, a crime scene.
Every single month, the Ontario Federation of Labour sends multiple letters to police chiefs in the region where the worker is killed, urging them to investigate. To inquire. To act. But Ontario remains a province where police have not been given proper training or protocols and procedures on what to do when a workplace death happens.
In spite of years of silence from the province on this gap, we came up with a workaround.
The Ontario Federation of Labour, along with the United Steel Workers and Toronto Civic Employees Union, championed a motion in Toronto City Council, to provide mandatory training for police services on how to investigate workplace deaths using the lens of the Westray Law; a law that labour fought so hard for its inception. A law that can lead to the criminalization of workplace deaths. Where employers can be jailed for criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm of workers.
On this Day of Mourning, the OFL is eager to share that last week, City Council passed the motion. Police across Toronto will now receive mandatory training on the Westray Law.
When workers come together with progressive politicians, real change happens for workers. And every community in Ontario – and across Canada – can push for the same.
Every year on Day of Mourning, we re-commit ourselves to mourn for the dead and fight for the living. Every day, we push for prevention, enforcement, and criminal accountability for employers, so that one day, every day, workers will come home safe and sound.
This year, and every year, because of our collective action, we are a bit closer. Thank you for your solidarity.
One injury, one illness, one death, is too many.
