Government and labor leaders convened in downtown Winnipeg Friday for a walk to honor workers who have suffered injury or illness on the job.
Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, led the walk alongside Premier Wab Kinew, labor minister Malaya Marcelino, and acting Workers Compensation Board CEO Cathy Skinner to the city’s Memorial Park.
The MFL highlighted that over 1,000 Canadians die annually due to workplace injuries and illnesses, with 22 Manitoba workers losing their lives in 2023.
Rebeck noted that half of Manitoba’s workplace deaths last year resulted from occupational diseases caused by prolonged exposure to chemicals and other harmful materials, such as asbestos.
“Each one of these deaths represents a family member, friend, and co-worker who never made it home or spent their final years battling an occupational disease,” said Rebeck.
“While today is about mourning, it is also about recommitting ourselves to making workplaces safer to prevent these tragic losses in the future.”