Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki speaks to delegates at the Canadian Industrial Relations Association Annual Conference

Speaking notes
for
Ed Komarnicki,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour
Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA) Annual Conference
May 28, 2009
Gatineau, Quebec

Check against delivery

Mr. Bellemare and delegates, I am very pleased to be here today at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA).

I would like to begin by emphasizing the importance of the workplace – where Canadian creativity and innovation thrives. Our Government recognizes that our nation’s economic wealth is generated by millions of Canadians in the thousands of workplaces, both large and small, that comprise Canada’s economy.

A well-functioning workplace is one in which workers are safe and treated fairly, where productivity is high, and where employers and employees cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect. By building and sustaining such workplaces, the economy as a whole benefits and Canada’s prosperity is enhanced.

Given the importance of the workplace to the economy and the economic challenges facing us today, it is more important than ever to ensure that businesses and workers have the tools they need to succeed in the current economy and enjoy renewed prosperity in the years to come.

Our Government is determined to help Canadians weather this global economic storm, and we are doing so in a comprehensive way that best positions Canada for future growth and prosperity.

Just as the economic downturn itself hit with unprecedented speed, our Government acted with unprecedented swiftness.

We acted early and decisively to make sure that when the downturn arrived, we could quickly bridge the gap between the downturn and recovery to ensure that Canada was the last country to feel its effects, and the first one to recover. We cut taxes, paid down the debt and invested in infrastructure.

And now, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, with the help of our provincial partners, we are investing $52 billion – roughly 3.2% of Canada’s GDP – into the economy over this year and next.

As you know, the mandate of the Minister of Labour is to foster safe, fair and productive workplaces and cooperative workplace relations.

This mandate is discharged directly in those sectors over which the federal government has jurisdiction, as well as nationally and internationally through collaboration with the provinces and territories, and with other countries and multilateral organizations. It is in each of these areas that we are working to deliver on our mandate and meet our goals.

Let me explain how the labour programs and services support hard-working Canadians and contribute to a more prosperous Canada.

First and foremost, our Government supports Canadian workers, and we are providing new financial safeguards for workers in these uncertain economic times.

Our Government’s Wage Earner Protection Program or WEPP, provides compensation for owed wages when an employer is declared bankrupt or is subject to receivership.

The WEPP provides workers with guaranteed and timely payment of eligible wages, which include salaries, commissions, and vacation pay. And in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the program was enhanced to include termination pay and severance pay.

We recognize that hard-working Canadians face very real challenges when their employers go bankrupt, and through this program our Government is ensuring that we provide assistance to Canadian workers facing financial pressure due to job loss during this difficult time.

Secondly, as Canadians would expect, we are taking additional steps to ensure that workplaces are safe, secure and fair for workers.

We’ve taken decisive action in an area that, quite frankly, has been overlooked for too long—and that’s violence in the workplace.

Every worker has the right to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve in a safe, productive and inclusive workplace.

While workplace violence hurts the individual victims and their families first and foremost, the fear, stress and anxiety it creates have economic and social costs for all of us.

Research by the Compensation Boards of Canada says that between 2003 and 2007, there were on average 5, 500 lost-time injuries and nine fatalities annually in Canada—all resulting from violence in the workplace.

Workers deserve more than measures that simply respond after-the-fact. That’s why federal regulations require employers under federal jurisdiction to take steps to prevent workplace violence from ever happening in the first place.

Inclusive Workplaces

As much as individuals should be able to work in a safe environment, they should also be able to get jobs and promotions based on their abilities, free from discrimination. This is what we call an inclusive workplace. Canada is built on a promise of opportunity, and hard work. Inclusive workplaces are central to a productive economy and a cohesive society. Workplaces should reflect the increasing diversity of Canada, in order to ensure that the talents of all workers can be fully developed and can contribute to our shared prosperity.

That is why our Government is implementing the Racism-Free Workplace Strategy, which is a key component of the Government’s A Canada for All: Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism.

This strategy aims at helping ensure Canadian workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve in a productive and inclusive workplace to ensure that all Canadian workers can make a strong contribution.

We’ve developed measures to remove discriminatory barriers and to advance the upward mobility of visible minorities and Aboriginal peoples in the workplace through education and information. Through this strategy, employers get the tools best practices and partnerships they need to connect with communities. Just as important, the principles and objectives of employment equity are explained.

We have delivered awareness sessions to recognize and address barriers in the workplace. We are also highlighting concrete measures implemented by successful employers , for example, scholarships and mentorship programs for aboriginal students adopted by some employers in the banking sector.

This is an important element of ensuring a safe, secure workplace. Workers who know they can count on an inclusive workplace will be able to make a greater contribution and to reach their own potential.

Mediation

Another area of importance is our role in supporting fair and cooperative workplace relations.

The Labour Program offers an extensive range of preventive mediation and grievance mediation services aimed at resolving workplace differences and improving industrial relations.

Today, nine out of ten collective bargaining disputes in federally-regulated workplaces are settled without a work stoppage, often with some kind of conciliation or mediation help.

Looking ahead

So far, I have shared with you an overview of some of the Labour Program’s key activities to support our future economic growth. I would also like to highlight for you a couple of new initiatives that will be undertaken over the coming year.

Modernizing Part III of the Canada Labour Code

One of the Minister of Labour’s priorities is modernizing Part III of the Canada Labour Code, which establishes labour standards in the federal jurisdiction. In fact, consultations with key stakeholders are currently underway.

We are facing challenging economic circumstances, and now more than ever, it is important that labour standards remain relevant and effective.

Given the profound changes that have occurred in the labour market since 1965, the year Part III of the labour code was first enacted, we want to ensure that federal jurisdiction employers are supported in their efforts to run efficient businesses and effectively deploy workforces in rapidly changing market conditions.

Equally important is ensuring that federal jurisdiction employees have supportive work environments and can engage in productive work while still balancing family life and civic responsibilities.

It is in all of our interests to ensure that we have modern and flexible labour standards that can support economic prosperity for Canadians now and in the future.

International affairs

I’ll turn now to another area of activity for the coming year that I would like to highlight for you – our international efforts.

International labour agreements help level the playing field for Canadian enterprises and open up trade and investment opportunities.

Labour Cooperation Agreements, negotiated alongside free trade agreements, help protect employers and employees from unfair competition. They also help us make sure that fundamental labour standards are respected so economic growth can be achieved in a fair and sustainable manner.

Last year, Canada successfully concluded labour cooperation agreements with the Governments of Peru, Colombia, and Jordan. These agreements are the most comprehensive agreements linking trade and labour ever negotiated by Canada and have raised the bar with respect to the rights and obligations that the parties have undertaken. These agreements have also provided a template for future negotiations.

We will consider more international engagement over the next year, through labour cooperation agreements and technical cooperation programs.

Conclusion

In concluding my remarks, let me state again the importance of the workplace to Canada’s prosperity. This is where our nation’s wealth is generated. It’s also where many working-age Canadians spend a significant part of their lives.

The Labour Program will continue to explore ways in which we can provide support to Canadians. We are fully committed to helping ensure that Canadian workplaces are safe, healthy and productive, that Canadian businesses remain competitive and strong, and that employers and employees are able to succeed in these challenging economic times and can help set the stage for a more prosperous future.

Thank you.

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Date Modified:
2009-05-28