Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for a question which I think is both important and timely. We have noticed over the last several years there has been a trend line downward in the level of occupational accidents and the level of compensation claims. We recognize that with a whole new series
and new kinds of industrial and office based hazards growing, we are going to have to do more.
One thing we did immediately was establish a 1-800 number that works out of the Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in the city of Hamilton to provide instantaneous information for all users of industrial kinds so they can find out what kinds of solutions and programs are necessary.
One of the most important initiatives under the new labour side agreement under NAFTA is that we have now started a series of major conferences on occupational safety dealing with petrochemicals, construction and electronics so we can begin to share the knowledge and information of the three countries and begin to provide new standards.
It is important, especially when we get into new office space hazards, ergonomics and other areas, that we begin to enlist the co-operation of business, labour and all levels of government to provide a new regime of occupational safety in the country.