Thank you very much for the question. I appreciate it. As an orthopedic surgeon myself, I have to say that the health and safety components in the workplace are something I remain very focused on. Making sure that Canadians who go to work healthy return healthy is very important.
Our health and safety officers—individuals who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with respect to issues that employees may be concerned about—do outstanding and dedicated work. These are individuals who understand the workplaces they are working in and work diligently with the employers and employees to make the environments that these workers are in even safer.
Our work, as mentioned, is paying off. Over the last 12 years, between 2000 and 2012, there's been a 30% decline in the rate of disabling injuries and fatalities for federally regulated workplaces. This is something that Canadians and our program should be very proud of.
Specifically with respect to items in the workplace, items that the labour program focuses on, one thing I will point out to individuals of the committee, and also to Canadians in general, is the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. I think it's an unknown gem, a great centre established in 1978 that promotes well-being and works with Canadians providing information, training, education, and management systems to support health, safety, and wellness in the workplace.
Kin Choi, our ADM, is the chair of that centre. It does outstanding work and I think has been truly the big contributor to making sure workplaces are safe across the country. A lot of its services are free, and I encourage all Canadians to access it so they can create a safer workplace.