VICTORIA—New Democrat Labour critic Chuck Puchmayr released the following statement to mark the National Day of Mourning for killed and injured workers:

On March 7th, a cargo van carrying 17 farmworkers was traveling along the rain-soaked Trans Canada Highway to a worksite in the Fraser Valley. It was a trip they had taken countless times before. But this time, something went wrong. The van lost control and overturned, landing on a concrete barrier near the Sumas exit in Abbotsford.

Amarjit Kaur Bal, Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu and Sukhwinder Kaur Punia lost their lives in that accident, while the remaining 14 passengers suffered serious injury.

This tragic event is but one example of a shocking reality: every year, hundreds of B.C. workers are killed in the workplace, while thousands of others are injured.

On Saturday April 28th, we observe a National day of Mourning for those injured or killed in the workplace. This year, we honor the memory of 160 British Columbians who went to work in 2006, and never returned. Today we mourn their loss, and commit to a higher standard.

While the tragic deaths of three farm workers captured the headlines, thousands more accidents and injuries go unreported. And they are far too common. In 2006 alone, 5,000 workers were permanently inured as a result of a workplace accident.

Each of these accidents is preventable. And none should be forgotten.

The B.C. Liberal government has a responsibility to protect workers. But their actions in office have taken us in the wrong direction. Under the Campbell Liberals, we have seen cutbacks in workplace inspections and reduced support for injured workers, particularly those over the age of 65. The Campbell government also stripped away provisions of the Employment Standards Act that gave basic rights to farmworkers, such as minimum wage protection.

They haven’t listened, and clearly they haven’t learned.

The New Democrat Opposition will continue to hold the B.C. Liberal government to account for its choices. We will advocate on behalf of all British Columbians, to ensure that basic protections and safety regulations for workers are restored.

Because one death in the workplace is one too many.