April 26, 2024
Statement from Premier Wab Kinew and Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino on International Day of Mourning
Each year on the International Day of Mourning, we pause and reflect on the Manitobans who died from injuries and illnesses they suffered at work. We remember so many of our friends, family members and neighbours who were not given the safety they deserved.
Manitobans deserve to feel safe on the job and when they leave for work in the morning, their loved ones should be able to count on their safe return home. Our government has taken steps to improve workplace safety by bringing in legislation that would re-establish the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health and committing to restore 1:1 apprenticeship ratios, so workers get high-quality training with the highest possible safety standards.
Our government wants Manitobans to know that we have their backs at work. We have brought forward legislation that would bring more good jobs to Manitobans and extend long-term leave for serious injury or illness to 27 weeks, aligning with the federal employment insurance benefit period. We’re also committed to single-step certification and banning replacement workers to protect good-paying jobs for Manitobans.
There is still a lot of work to be done to make workplaces safer. The recent tragic death of Winnipeg firefighter Preston Heinbigner points to the toll many jobs can take on mental health. That is why our government announced more mental health supports for Manitoba’s first responders. It is also why we are bringing in Institutional Safety Officers at hospitals across the province so those working on the front lines of our health-care system are safer at work.
Today, we encourage all Manitobans to take a moment of solemn reflection to remember the lives lost and the loved ones no longer with us. We reaffirm our commitment to keep working together to improve safety and supports for all workers in Manitoba.
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