Someone Once Called Me an Activist

When I think of an activist, I’m reminded of the Westray coal mine disaster.

Twenty-two years ago, 26 workers died in the Westray coal mine disaster. I’m reminded that it took union activists a dozen years to finally have Bill C-45 – the Westray Bill – amended to the Criminal Code.

“217.1 Everyone who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.”

And although I am embarrassed that the Westray Act has sat idle for the past 10 years, I am proud of Steelworker activists who, on the 10th anniversary of the passing of Bill C-45, are criss-crossing the province to garner municipal support for the Westray Bill. I’m proud that Greater Sudbury was their first stop and that our city council supported it unanimously 13-0. And I’m proud that communities all across Ontario continue to support the concept that if you kill a worker, then you go to jail.

When I think of an activist, I’m reminded of people like Wendy Fram.

Three years ago, a run-of-muck at Vale’s Stobie mine killed two miners: Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram. Wendy is the mother of Jordan Fram.  In a time where it would reasonable – acceptable even – to close herself off and mourn the loss of her son, Wendy became the face of the MINES committee: Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support. Over the past three years, the MINES committee worked with union activists to force a provincial review of the mining regulations.

Wendy Fram currently sits on that Mining Review Committee along with: George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief prevention officer; John Perquin, of the United Steelworkers; Fergus P. Kerr, vice-president of operations at Global Atomic Fuels Corporation, as well as representatives from Workplace Safety North and the Institute of Work and Health.

When I think of an activist, I think of Wendy Fram. Because there is not one thing that Wendy can accomplish that will bring her son, Jordan, back to life. But everything she accomplishes will help your children and my children, and the estimated 27,000 people that work in Ontario’s mining industry.

When someone calls me an activist, I wonder what the opposite must be. And it occurs to me – the opposite must be a lobbyist. If an activist speaks on behalf of the community and the workers, then a lobbyist speaks on behalf of industry.

However, when I think of a lobbyist, I don’t feel same pride.

When I think of a lobbyist, I’m reminded of the Elliot Lake miners:

Industry lobbyists were the ones who said that breathing in aluminum dust would protect the Elliot Lake miners from radiation and workplace cancers. Industry lobbyists were the ones who said that Ontario didn’t need an Occupational Health and Safety Act. Industry lobbyists were the ones who said uranium mining falls under federal legislation. It was because of industry lobbyists that it took an additional 10 years (1984) before the federal and provincial governments, mining companies, and union worked out a deal so uranium miners were protected by the OHSA.

When I think of a lobbyist, I’m reminded of The International Day of Mourning.

Industry lobbyists were the ones who said that we didn’t need a Day of Mourning. It’s because of industry lobbyists that although the first Day of Mourning was recognized in Sudbury in 1984, it wasn’t recognized across Canada for another seven years (1991). It’s because of industry lobbyists that the International Day of Mourning has taken another three decades to spread to nearly 200 countries around the world.

When I think of a lobbyist, I’m reminded of the Westray coal mine disaster.

It’s because of industry lobbyists that it took a dozen years to finally have the Westray Bill amended to the Criminal Code. It’s because of industry lobbyists that the 117 miners who were not working on shift at the time had to wait almost six years before they were given their 12 weeks’ severance pay. It’s because of industry lobbyists that government has failed to hold anyone criminally accountable for any of the 1,000 workers who are killed in their workplace each year in Canada.

Think about that: 1,000 workers a year for 30 years.

When I think of a lobbyist, I’m reminded of people like Wendy Fram.

It’s because of industry lobbyists that people like Wendy Fram had to fight for three years to have the government look into Mining Health and Safety legislation. It’s because of industry lobbyists that Ontario is having a “review” of those mining regulations instead of an “inquiry.” And, it’s industry lobbyists who are – right now – arguing that the Ontario Mining Review should not include surface plants.  

So when someone tells me “You’re acting like an activist,” I think to myself, “Thank God someone is.” Because when I think of a lobbyist, I think of someone who would argue that not enough people have died in our workplaces to necessitate any change. But when I think of an activist, I think of someone who recognizes that too many people have already died in our workplaces – and that we need change.

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