moved for leave to introduce Bill C-259, an act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal liability of corporations, directors and officers).
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to reintroduce a bill that establishes the criminal liability of corporations, of their executives and officers, for criminal acts or omissions carried out knowingly by them which put the health and safety of their employees at risk.
This is a bill that arises out of a recommendation from the public inquiry into the disastrous Westray tragedy in Nova Scotia that killed 26 miners unnecessarily. It will establish once and for all the public responsibility to protect employees in the country against any such disastrous outcome.
The bill is long overdue. It is specifically a recommendation of the Westray inquiry and Canadians will benefit from such protection in the future.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)