Event hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Speaking notes
for
The Honourable Lisa Raitt,
Canada’s Minister of Labour
Event hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Metropolis Conference
September 9, 2010
Mexico City, Mexico

Check against delivery

  • Good morning. Thank you for the kind introduction, and thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity to address you today.

  • Let me start by saying that it is an honour for me to be here during this auspicious time in Mexico on the occasion of the bicentennial celebration of Independence and of the centennial of the Mexican Revolution, which will be celebrated next week.

  • This past Monday, September 6th, Canadians celebrated Labour Day. A Canadian tradition that has been observed on the first Monday of September for over 115 years.

  • This special day acknowledges the work accomplished by Canadian workers throughout the year, as well as their tremendous contribution to the prosperity and economic growth of the country.

    Canada-Mexico Partnership

  • Canada and Mexico share a dynamic and prosperous relationship: as friends, as North American neighbours, and as strategic partners in the Americas and in the world. Over the years, our cooperation has expanded across a wide range of political, trade, social, environmental and security interests.

  • The Canada-Mexico Partnership is our key mechanism for bilateral cooperation. It serves as a catalyst for concerted action between our governments, private sectors, and non-governmental partners to pursue common goals and achieve results that will contribute to strengthening our economic prosperity and enhancing the quality of life of the people of both countries.

  • Due to our important partnership, I am equally pleased to have the opportunity to address the Canadian Chamber of Commerce here in Mexico City.

  • In my remarks today, I hope to outline for you the Canadian perspective on labour relations and the workplace, our strengths and our weaknesses, and how I aim to address the current gaps in our system.

  • I will also touch upon the importance of international labour partnerships, such as the one we share with Mexico, and the importance these partnerships have on the global economy.

  • Because, by increasing our partnerships, like our strong relationship with Mexico, we will:

    • enhance the economic and social benefits through increased cooperation and education;
    • promote people-to-people partnerships across our borders; and
    • contribute to the continent’s international economic competitiveness.

    Government of Canada and the Labour Program

  • I would like to begin today by describing to you the Canadian perspective of labour practices in the workplace.

  • As you may know, as Canada’s Labour Minister, I am charged with ensuring that workplaces are safe, innovative, and productive as well as with encouraging positive relations between workers and employers.

  • Let me take a few moments to share with you what we have learned from our experiences and explain how the Government of Canada supports hard-working Canadians, which contributes to a more prosperous country.

  • The Canadian government works with federally-regulated employers, unions and workers, as well as provincial and territorial ministers of labour, to promote safe and healthy workplaces across Canada.

  • This includes education, monitoring and conducting investigations to ensure compliance with the Canada Labour Code, which covers industrial relations, occupational health and safety standards, and employment standards, and other laws that apply to workplaces under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.

  • The federal government also plays a role with respect to compensation and rehabilitation benefits for workers in the federal public sector who get sick or injured at work.

  • New, or newly-recognised, workplace hazards such as chronic stress, exposure to second hand smoke, asbestosis, and mental illness have made workers’ compensation more complex and costly over the past decade.

    Occupational Health and Safety

  • To me, 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.

  • Because, not only do we want to have workplaces which are competitive and profitable, but we also want to ensure that workers arrive home to their families at the end of their day healthy and injury-free.

  • By building and sustaining such workplaces, the economy as a whole benefits and our countries’ prosperity is enhanced.

  • Therefore, as a government, we must take steps to ensure that workplaces are safe, secure and fair for workers. We have found that workers who do not need to worry about injury on the job are more motivated, more productive, and more able to be innovative.

  • As a mother of two young boys, I am also particularly focused on educating our young workers, those who are new to the workplace and may not know their rights or may be hesitant to vocalise concerns to their supervisors.

  • This summer, I launched a series of roundtables to examine occupational health and safety in the Canadian workplace, to look at solutions for assisting youth at work as well as open discussions on mental health issues in the workplace, which is an emerging issue in Canada.

  • Healthy, dynamic work environments are the engines of productivity and innovation – and continued success within a globalized market requires that today, more than ever, we do all that we can to foster high-performing workplaces.

  • When workers are injured or killed, not only is there tremendous personal suffering, but productivity also drops.

  • To be assured that workplaces are safe, our Government conducts workplace inspections, investigates complaints, and efforts are made to raise awareness about workplace safety laws and best practices.

  • We are working hard to ensure a healthy workplace for all Canadians and this in turn has helped to enhance long-term prosperity for the country as a whole and helped us to weather the global economic downturn.

    Productive Labour Relations

  • Another area of importance is the Government of Canada’s role in supporting fair and cooperative workplace relations.

  • In a globalized economy where competition is intense and technological change is rapid, we must do everything we can to ensure that labour-management relations remain cooperative.

  • Of course, disagreements will happen. But those disagreements should be resolved in a way that is as respectful and cooperative as possible.

  • Our mediation and conciliation services encourage the resolution of differences without a work stoppage – an outcome that is important not only to the parties involved, but also to the Canadian economy as a whole.

  • Good labour-management relations benefit our economic prosperity and the economic security of all workers.

  • I am happy to say that 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.

    Room for Improvement

  • Canada is a land of opportunity. While we felt the effects of the global economic recession, we are seeing signs of improvement and employment is again on the rise.

  • While we have a great deal to be thankful for, there is always room for improvement.

  • To ensure that Canada remains competitive, we can push ourselves to set the bar higher in the workplace.

  • In particular, one area we must improve upon is the health and safety of our workplaces. While we can’t eliminate all the risks in the workplace, we can – and should – be better prepared for them. Even one fatality in the workplace is one too many.

  • We have a duty to support our employees and build the safest and most productive businesses possible.

  • Ultimately, safe, healthy workplaces benefit us all—as workers, as employers and unions, and as governments concerned with promoting the economic health of our countries and protecting the personal safety of its citizens.

  • I also believe that continuing to build and strengthen labour cooperation with our international partners is key to addressing an ever changing global economy.

    The Global Economy

  • Because everyone here today recognizes that a nation’s economic prosperity is generated by millions of workers in the thousands of workplaces, both large and small, that comprise the global economy.

  • I think the events of this past year, when the world was drawn into a global economic recession, helped to reinforce that all of our economies are linked, and the required solution was a global response.

  • As all countries continue their economic recovery, sharing our respective approaches on the key labour issues, such as occupational health and safety and collaborative relations between workers and employers, is especially important because we know that well-functioning workplaces will benefit all of our economies and make them stronger and more resilient.

  • That is why opportunities like this are so important, so that we can address issues and learn from each other.

  • By sharing with our international partners, it helps us to create and maintain healthy and innovative workplaces that contribute to our shared prosperity.

  • 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 benefit from improved relations and have the tools they need to succeed in the current economy and enjoy renewed prosperity in the years to come.

    International Efforts

  • Canada is a trade dependent nation. International trade represents more than 70% of our gross domestic product (GDP). Our economy and quality of life depend heavily on us doing business with the world.

  • That is why we have been busy negotiating and signing agreements with trading partners around the world, including Jordan, Panama, Colombia, the European Union and the Caribbean Community.

  • Trade, however, must be promoted in ways that ensure decent working conditions and respect for workers’ rights.

  • I am proud to say that the Governments of Canada and Mexico, along with the United States, signed the first agreement that links labour rights and labour standards to an international trade agreement in the NAALC – the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation –as a parallel accord to NAFTA.

  • This Agreement highlights cooperation on labour matters, the promotion of eleven principles in three key areas of labour law – industrial relations, occupational health and safety, and employment standards – and the effective enforcement of domestic labour law in the three NAFTA countries.

    Conclusion

  • Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a very exciting eight months for me since assuming responsibilities as Canada’s Labour Minister.

  • The portfolio puts me at the forefront of some very exciting developments in Canada and internationally.

  • We, like other countries, are still on a steady path towards economic recovery.

  • I am pleased to be here today to re-affirm Canada’s strong partnership with Mexico and applaud our collective efforts on working together to create stronger economic leadership and improving labour standards.

  • It has been an honour to speak to you all today and I know that together we can build the economy of tomorrow.

  • I look forward to hearing some of your experiences and taking your questions.

Thank you.

 

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Date Modified:
2011-11-07