'This is a day to bring awareness to issues of workplace injury and the plight of injured workers, and to demonstrate a commitment to workplace injury prevention and remediation'
With June 1 fast approaching, injured workers and their families expressed strong support for legislation that looks to Injured Workers Day officially proclaimed in Ontario.
Last week, injured workers and their families shared their stories at the SteelWorker’s Union Hall on Brady Street in support of Private Member’s Bill 118, according to a CTV News report.
Jamie West, MPP for Sudbury and Labour critic for the Ontario NDP, introduced Bill 118, Injured Workers Day Act, 2023 late in May last year.
“Workplace injuries profoundly affect workers, their families and their communities,” the preamble of the bill. “Injured Workers Day serves as an opportunity for the Province of Ontario to recognize the individuals who have been injured at work or who have suffered injuries as a result of their workplace conditions. This is a day to bring awareness to issues of workplace injury and the plight of injured workers, and to demonstrate a commitment to workplace injury prevention and remediation.”
The first Injured Workers’ Day was held on June 1, 1983, when more than 3,000 injured workers came to Queen's Park for public hearings on a proposal to change the workers' compensation system, according to West.
However, legislation officially recognizing June 1 as Injured Workers’ Day has never been passed in the province.
“For the past 40 years, injured workers and their advocates have continued to gather in cities across the province on June 1 to recognize Injured Workers' Day,” said West back in 2023.
“After four decades, it is time for the Ontario Legislature to officially recognize June 1 as Injured Workers Day.”
Support for Bill 118
Various workers' groups have called for the day to be formally recognized, according to the CTV News report.
“After you get 70, you get pushed on the back burner, so you don’t know where to go for help,” said Marcel Mayhew, an injured worker in attendance at West’s event, according to the report.
“So now this here helps us get somewhere, so this is why I like to join places like this.”
West’s proposed legislation garnered support from multiple stakeholders back in 2023.
"We would be so pleased to have the Ontario Legislature officially recognize June 1 as Injured Workers Day,” said Janet Paterson, president, Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG).
“Injured Workers often feel invisible. Especially those 20,000 workers each year with a severe injury or illness that ends up as a permanent, lifelong disability. We often lose our jobs, our income, our place in life and our social connections. This could be one step forward to help us heal and to create a more inclusive society."
Janice Hobbs Martell, founder of the McIntyre Powder Project, noted: "Any one of us at any moment in our working lives could become an injured worker – and experience the loss of self, purpose, relationships, financial security, and many other impacts faced every day by injured workers and their families.
“Injured Workers Day acknowledges those impacts and breaks the isolation felt by these hard-working members of our communities. I sincerely hope the members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario will formally recognize June 1 as Injured Workers Day."
