Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day of Mourning. This is why the flags on Parliament Hill are flying at half-mast.
We stand united across party lines as we pay our sincere tribute to the workers and their families who have been permanently affected by workplace tragedies. Last year, there were 78 work-related fatalities in Ontario alone and another 257 from occupational disease. Over 78,000 Canadians were injured seriously enough to miss work.
In a strong nation such as Canada, it is fitting that we pay homage to the men and women who have had their lives tragically cut short, and those injured at work. These men and women have paid the ultimate price while making our nation a better place to live, and they deserve the honour we bestow upon them today.
We must remain committed to making all Canadian work environments as safe as possible to protect employees across Canada.
Let us please give our respects to those workers who have fallen in their line of duty.