Mr. Speaker, the Weyburn and District Labour Council in my constituency has invited me to attend their annual ceremony for the April 28 National Day of Mourning. It is a day of mourning to recognize workers who have been injured or killed on the job.
Each year in Canada an average of 1,000 workers are killed and hundreds or thousands of others are injured or suffer illnesses as a result of workplace related diseases. It is a time to mourn, to reflect, and to the extent we can, to share the horror, the trauma and the emotion that workers and those close to them have had to face.
We must, because we are in a position to do so, commit ourselves to fight for healthy and safe workplaces. Our human resources are the most important fundamental cog in our expanding and ever-changing economy that defines us as who we are. We must fully understand that human life in all of its aspects is precious and is our most precious commodity that must be treated with respect. We must do everything we can to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.