The health and safety of workers is a priority

As minister of labour and minister of the status of women, the health and safety of Canada’s workforce is my No. 1 priority. Our government is proposing changes to the Canada Labour Code to achieve better health and safety outcomes for workers, businesses and all Canadians.

In a column printed yesterday in the Ottawa Citizen, Robyn Benson, National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, criticized the changes that are being proposed. In addition, she took the opportunity to attack my professional reputation as a physician and surgeon. That is regrettable.

Let me explain to your readers what our government is doing and how it will result in workplaces that are safe, fair and productive.

We are proposing to change the definition of danger in the Canada Labour Code. This is not diminishing the protection for workers. The new definition of danger would continue to provide protection from all hazards — whether the impact is immediate, such as fall protection, or longer-term, such as an occupational illness.

Let’s be clear, the new definition of danger does not eliminate a pregnant or nursing woman’s right to refuse dangerous work. As well, section 132 of the Canada Labour Code ensures that any pregnant or nursing employee can cease to perform job functions that may pose risk to her health or that of the fetus or child. This has not changed.

The reason we are amending the definition is to clarify the law. Consider this, over a 10-year period, 2000 to 2010, more than 80 per cent of the refusals to work have been determined to be situations of no danger, even after allowing appeals. These requests have put a strain on resources and prevented a higher number of proactive interventions by health and safety officers. Workplace parties — employers, workers and their representatives — are best placed to ensure their workplace is safe and healthy, and these proposed amendments to Part II of the Canada Labour Code will put responsibility back in their hands. This model is called the internal responsibility system and is a cornerstone of Part II of the Canada Labour Code.

Every province and territory has established this system in its occupational health and safety framework and its refusal to work process. The amendments will reinforce the system in federal jurisdiction and bring the work-refusal process in line with that of all other Canadian jurisdictions.

Canadian workers and businesses are indeed making progress in this very important area of occupational health and safety. The incidence of disabling injuries for all federally regulated industry sectors declined by 22 per cent between 2007 and 2011.

There will be no reduction or elimination of health and safety officers as a result of our amendments. Health and safety officers will continue to play an important role in enforcing the Canada Labour Code, and I will delegate the powers they require to do so. Recourse mechanisms will always be available to workers and employers, with health and safety officers available 24/7 to address issues that are raised.

Labour program officials recently met with employee and employer stakeholders, including PSAC, to provide an overview and address concerns around the proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code. In addition, I reached out and spoke with Benson to address her concerns, and I look forward to meeting her in the near future.

The health and safety of all workers remains a priority for the government of Canada and for me.