Media Centre
February 22, 2011
Canadian health and safety regulations need to be stronger - Public sector workers speak out about the important jobs they do on behalf of Canadians
Ottawa – Public sector regulators and technical experts are speaking out about the important work they do protecting the health and safety of everyday Canadians. The Public Service Alliance of Canada is launching a series of videos today to highlight the important jobs these workers do on behalf of Canadians.
More than 15,000 Canadians work in the federal public service as accident inspectors, chemical decontamination technologists, grain-handling regulators, ship and train safety inspectors, counter terrorism specialists, fishery officers, nutritional researchers and ammunition technicians, to name only a few.
“Their expert knowledge and skills keep our skies, seas, and environment safe for all,” says John Gordon, PSAC National President.
Environics polling results quoted as part of a primer highlighting the importance of regulations released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reveals 9 out of 10 Canadians want their government to do more to protect the environment, health and safety.
The study also demonstrates an overwhelming majority of Canadians want government workers, not the industries themselves, to enforce regulations.
“The Prime Minister needs to start listening to these Canadians and not just a couple of friendly business executives and lobbyists,” says John Gordon. “Compliance with health and safety regulations needs to be strengthened.”
The E. coli contaminated water crisis at Walkerton and the listeria food poisoning outbreak at Maple Leaf Foods are just a couple of examples of the impact deregulation has had on Canadian lives.
“There is a real possibility that these services will be jeopardized as the government prepares to table a budget with millions in cuts to federal departments, without a plan on how to deal with this short fall,” concluded Gordon.
The PSAC serves notice to bargain for Technical Service workers with Treasury Board today.
For more information:
Shelina Merani, PSAC Communications, 613-293-9324
To view videos:
www.psac-afpc.com/tcgroup
Information on CCPA Regulations Primer:
www.policyalternatives.ca/
Date Modified : 2011/02/24
