MPPs call for action on National Steel Car deaths

New Democrat MPPs from Hamilton and Niagara are demanding meaningful action" by the province - including a fast-tracked investigation - into workplace deaths at National Steel Car.

In a letter, the MPPs urge Labour Minister Monte McNaughton to meet with the union for workers at the railcar plant as requested by the United Steel Workers after welder Quoc Le, 51, died on the job June 6. The father of two was the third employee to die in that workplace in the last 22 months.

It is time for concrete and meaningful action," reads the letter signed by Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates and St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens. Workplaces that fail to protect workers should not be able to continually operate without consequences."

Greg Meredith, Ontario's deputy labour minister, responded in a letter Friday to say ministry officials - but not McNaughton - would arrange special meetings" with both the United Steel Workers and National Steel Car.

The trio of MPPs also called for an expedited investigation" by the province into the recent deaths and for the minister to make a recommendation to explore the applicability and enforcement of the Westray Law."

The Westray Law is a criminal code amendment meant to allow investigators to consider criminal liability on the part of corporations for workplace deaths. The USW has called for police to probe the latest death for criminal negligence.

National Steel Car said in an email from its lawyers Friday the province has or is investigating all of the workplaces deaths and it is disingenuous" for the MPPs or union to suggest otherwise.

The email also noted both union members and company managers are part of a joint health and safety committee who are all committed to the important common goal of a safe workplace." The email goes on to say no issues were ever raised or considered by the Joint Health and Safety Committee in advance of these three terrible tragedies."

The letter from the deputy minister did not commit to an expedited probe. But it did point to maximum fines under an amended Occupational Health and Safety Act - up to $1.5 million - that it called the highest level in the country."

There are already provincial charges against National Steel Car before the courts related to the workplace deaths of crane operator Fraser Cowan in September 2020 and painter Collin Grayley in April 2021.

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at for The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com