Today, on the National Day of Mourning, we gather in solitude, in grief, and in solidarity to remember every worker who has been killed, injured, or made ill on the job. We honour their memory and join families, coworkers, and communities left carrying the weight of this loss.
At the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), we refuse to let the deaths and suffering of workers be met with silence. We demand accountability, not only for past tragedies, but for the workers who continue to face unsafe, hazardous conditions every day.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Westray Law, intended to hold employers criminally responsible for workplace deaths caused by negligence. Yet the law remains underused. That’s why the OFL’s 15-year “Kill a Worker, Go to Jail” campaign calls for criminal investigations into every workplace death. Accountability is not optional, and justice delayed is justice denied.
In 2023, more than 1,000 workers in Canada lost their lives due to their unsafe job. Over 274,000 more were injured or became ill, and many more cases remain unreported. This is a crisis. Every worker deserves to come home safe. Every workplace must be free from preventable harm.
We call on all levels of government to take urgent action to protect workers by:
- Enforcing the Westray Law and conducting criminal investigations into workplace deaths
- Expanding public awareness of invisible injuries and risks, especially in high-hazard industries
- Strengthening health and safety regulations, including air quality standards and WHMIS education
- Ensuring comprehensive coverage for all workplace injuries, including chronic and mental health conditions
- Removing barriers to unionization
April 28 is a day of remembrance, but also of recommitment. At the OFL, we will not stop fighting for a future where no worker dies on the job. We will continue to hold employers and governments accountable, until every workplace is safe, and every worker is protected.
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