Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews), that leave be given to introduce Bill 27, The Public Schools Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

* (1350)

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): I move, seconded by the member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen), that leave be given to introduce Bill 201, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la sécurité et l'hygiène du travail, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion presented.

Mr. Reid: I am pleased to be able to introduce this bill for first reading. For some time the wrong message has been sent to those who break The Workplace Safety and Health Act. The message sent said that if you break the law, the penalties were minor and could be considered just a part of the cost of doing business. The maximum fine for a first offence, even a loss of life, is currently a minuscule $15,000. The maximum was rarely, if ever, applied. Why? Largely because the Crown attorney's office looked at the fine structure and recognized that the lawmakers did not place importance on such tragedies. One example is the Power Vac prosecution wherein the Crown did not even ask for the $15,000 fine on each offence and then did not appeal the low fine imposed.

Given the number of deaths in workplace accidents, 67 in the last three years including some 27 in 1996 alone, including several miners, and the annual high levels of workplace accidents, the time has come for a stronger message to be sent. We are proposing that fines for accidents causing or likely to cause death or serious injury be set at a maximum of one-half million dollars. Where life-threatening injury or death occurs, or through a workplace accident, those found guilty would also be subject to further sanctions including time in jail. To encourage working people to identify and report unsafe workplaces without fear of retribution, such protection also forms a part of this bill. The message must be clear for those who break The Workplace Safety and Health Act and for the judicial system charged with enforcing the legislation.

We think this bill will address the serious weaknesses in the current legislation, and we all must do our part to ensure workplace deaths and injuries are prevented.

Motion agreed to.