National Day of Mourning
April 28, 2003 - City Hall, Peterborough
Twenty-five people took part in the annual National Day of Mourning ceremony which started at 10:45 am on Monday, April 28 at City Hall. Guest speaker Vern Edwards, director of Occupational Health and Safety for the Ontario Federation of labour, spoke on the issue of the income tax deductions corporations receive on the fines and penalties they pay when they kill or injure workers.
The OFL wants union locals to help lobby the provincial government to recind this perk under the Tories 'Proceeds of Crime' legislation.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Local 590, has sent a letter to Peter Adams, MP demanding a change in the federal Income Tax Act to remove this deduction.
Other speakers at the ceremony included city councillor Jeff Leal who brought greetings on behalf of the City of Peterborough, and Dave Nickle, provincial NDP candidate, who will be putting Health and Safety and other labour issues on the agenda during the next Ontario election.
The Day of Mourning flag was lowered to half-mast and a minute of silence was held at 11:00 am in respect of those workers who were injured or lost their lives at work.
(Click on a image to view larger photos as slideshow; click top corners to move between photos in slideshow)
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Photos by Bill Astell and Dean Shewring