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Peter:
Under your leadership, the government has taken a number of
actions that support the trades from repealing C-525, C-377,
expanding the CPP to implementing funding from the union training
and innovation program to the apprenticeship incentive grants. Why
was this a priority for your government and will it continue to be a
priority after the next election?
Justin Trudeau:
Well first of all, the promise we made when we were running for
election when we got elected in 2015 was to strengthen the middle
class to make sure that people who felt that, even though the
economy seemed to be growing, hardworking families weren't seen
to get ahead. The middle-class was sort of stalled in our economy.
So, we said we're going to turn that around, but the only way you
get to turn that around, particularly after 10 years of Steven Harper
attacking unions, is to work with unions and to support the labour Justin Trudeau:
movement. You are an essential partner in strengthening the First of all, safety for workers has to be a fundamental priority of
middle-class. You always have been. I mean the birth of the labour any government. Quite frankly, keeping Canadians safe is right up
movement was all about making sure that there's a strong middle at the top of the list of any responsibility of any government and
class, and that's where our alignment with you, our supportive of then we totally agree with that. That's why we moved forward on a
you, and our belief in what you are doing and quite frankly are number of things. We banned asbestos finally. You guys, your
learning from you on what works in so many ways is what it's all advocacy really helped push us over the top on that, but that just
about. made no sense. We brought in a C-65 which is legislation to reduce
harassment and protect people from harassment in the workforce
Union members and particularly the building trades are good
which is something we're all waking up to and needing concrete
providers for their families with contributions that build Canada, but
actions on.
they're also active and present community members, whether it's
little league, whether it's charity drives, whether it's community And we also brought forward the first reform of the Canada labour
organizations and festivals. Your members end up having some of code in like 60 years which includes significant elements of
the strongest connections and actions in our communities, and improving workplace safety, but there's always more to do and we
looking at you as an essential partner to build a better future, not recognize that the Conservatives, for example, changing the
just for your members but for all Canadians, is what we believed in definition of danger is a step in the wrong direction. We know we
deeply and what we've been focused on. need to get it right along with right of refusal. We look forward to
working with you, making sure we get the proper conversations and
Now, we can always find places where we'll disagree on this and
consultations about how to do it right, but yes, that's something
that, but the dialogue is always there and mostly the shared values
we look forward to working forward with you on in our next mandate.
are always there. We want the same things. We want Canadians to
succeed and we agree on most of the tools we need to put in place Peter:
to get forward. So yes, eliminating the anti-union legislation 525 The opioid crisis continues to affect more and more Canadians and
and 377 that the Conservatives brought in, investing in disproportionately young male construction workers. The CBTU has
apprenticeships and training, investing in the kinds of things that formed a partnership with Health Canada to remove the stigma and
are going to make a difference, you are essential to our success educate our members on this issue which we believe is making a
as a country and therefore to our success as a government. difference. What is your government's plan to address the opioid
crisis and stop the serious senseless loss of life?
Peter:
We thank you for the support. In the building trades, we pride
ourselves on skills, training, and safety. There is no workplace death
injury or industrial disease that cannot be prevented. Organized
labour has been vocal in its position that redefining the term danger
will diminish health and safety in federally regulated workplaces.
Organized labour has also been critical of the change to the work
refusal process because it removes reference to health and safety
officers and provides the labour program with the discretion not to
investigate a work refusal. Regardless of how the changes are
viewed, it is clear that the changes to the process around work
refusals are significant and will require action by employers to ensure
compliance. We need to fix the definition of danger and right to refuse
unsafe work. Is this something that you can commit to doing?

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