Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

B.C. Fed seeks jail for negligent employers as Canada remembers fallen workers

VANCOUVER – A powerful labour organization in British Columbia is demanding jail time for employers if their negligence causes the death of a worker.

The call from B.C. Federation of Labour secretary-treasurer Irene Lanzinger comes as workers across the country take part in ceremonies to remember those lost in work-related incidents or to occupational diseases.

Lanzinger says the federation believes employers in several cases have been negligent but have not faced criminal prosecution, or have received what she terms a slap on the wrist.

She says fines are not a deterrent because large companies can simply absorb a monetary penalty.

April 28 has been declared a national Day of Mourning, with the main event in British Columbia taking place at Jack Poole Plaza in downtown Vancouver.

The B.C. Federation of Labour says 128 people suffered job-related deaths in this province in 2013. (CHNL)

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

Related Articles

Two hikers among group of 14 rescued from B.C. mountain, one in critical condition | iNFOnews.ca
The search and rescue team from Metro Vancouver's North Shore, as shown in this handout image, says two hikers among a group of 14 had to be rescued and hospitalized, with one in critical condition, after falling in snowy conditions on Mount Brunswick. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-North Shore Rescue(Mandatory Credit)

Two hikers among group of 14 rescued from B.C. mountain, one in critical condition