Toronto Star recognized at public service journalism awards

Reporting on dangerous conditions for temp work honoured at Micheners

A Toronto Star year-long investigation detailing the hazardous working conditions faced by temp agency workers was among those honoured at this year’s Michener Award for public service journalism.

Temp Nation, by journalists Sara Mojtehedzadeh and Brendan Kennedy, was given cita- tion of merit as a nominee for the award during Tuesday evening’s ceremony.

The series put a spotlight on how companies turn to temp agencies to limit their liability for workplace accidents, reduce employers’ responsibility and cut costs.

The top prize was awarded to the Globe and Mail for its Unfounded investigation, which probed the systematic mismanagement of sexual assault cases by Canadian police forces.

As part of the Star’s Temp Nation investigation, Mojtehedza- deh spent a month working undercover at Fiera Foods, an industrial bakery where Amina Diaby, a 23-year-old temp worker, died in 2016.

The series revealed in-depth details of how temps — mostly new Canadians, refugees and visible minorities — are being exploited, abused, injured and even killed on the job.

It found workers have no protection because the temp agency often turns out to be a post office box or an empty store in a strip mall.

The Star’s investigation led to tougher provincial legislation to protect temp workers, strengthen provisions to outlaw pay discrimination, and remove financial incentives for workplaces to use temps. Fiera Foods immediately committed to an independent audit of its health and safety practices, and a review of its use of temp agencies.

The series won a Canadian Association of Journalists award for labour reporting in May.

The Star won the Michener in 2014 for its coverage of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford.

The other nominees for the Michener included Cogeco Media, CBC Edmonton, and the Vancouver Sun.

The Michener awards were founded in 1970 by the late Roland Michener, who served as governor general from 1967 to 1974. Governor General Julie Payette hosted the awards ceremony at Rideau Hall.

The Star won the Michener in 2014 for coverage of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford