Today is the National Day of Mourning and as always, we will observe this sombre day of remembrance to honour and recognize the many workers who have lost their lives or who have been injured on the job. During the Covid-19 global pandemic it is more important than ever to advocate for all workers still out there providing the essential services our communities need.

No matter whether they work in a grocery store, as a bus driver or hospital employee, too many of these workers do their jobs without an adequate supply of personal protective equipment or the training necessary to help ensure their safety. And of course, many of these workers are in precarious employment without the benefit of paid sick leave or additional health benefits. These workers are taking enormous risks every day and around the world, front line workers are paying a desperately high price.

The incidence of Covid-19 infection among healthcare workers is predictably high and is on the rise around the world. By early April, one in ten new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ontario was a front-line healthcare worker. Canada has seen illness and death in retail employees, in transportation and food service workers, and we are still at the beginning of this crisis. Canada’s workers will continue to put their lives and health at risk to keep us all safe until there is a definitive solution to the spread of this coronavirus.

April 28th marks a day to remember, to mourn, and to honour workers everywhere whose lives have been impacted or cut short because of the work they do every day.

I invite you to join today’s Day of Mourning observation, broadcast live on Facebook and hosted by the Yukon Federation of Labour. 

In these uncertain times, and we must all do our best to keep each other safe.

We are stronger, together.