Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Day of Mourning pushes for safer mining industry

His family was seated near the front of the United Steelworkers Hall while the packed room observed a minute of silence for all killed workers, and speakers looked to the past, and future, to remember lives lost and prevent future workplace fatalitie
Jonathan Migneault
Jonathan Migneault
280414_AP_leo_gerard
United Steelworkers international president Leo Gerard said during the Day of Mourning for workers killed on the job that he was shocked Vale has not appeared before the province's mine safety review committee. Photo by Arron Pickard.
His family was seated near the front of the United Steelworkers Hall while the packed room observed a minute of silence for all killed workers, and speakers looked to the past, and future, to remember lives lost and prevent future workplace fatalities.

United Steelworkers international president Leo Gerard said he was saddened and frustrated by Rochette's death at Vale's Copper Cliff smelter April 6.

“If we can send people to the moon, and we can send rocket ships to hook up in outer space, connect and bring them back safely, we ought to be able to make workplaces safe,” Gerard said.

In his speech, Gerard set his sights on the Ontario government's ongoing review of mining health and safety.

He said no mining companies operating in the province have yet chosen to appear during the review's public consultations in Sudbury and other mining jurisdictions across the province.