“Today, we remember the 17 crewmembers who lost their lives in the Cougar Helicopter Flight 491 crash, the families and loved ones they left behind, and the strength of the sole survivor who carried their story forward.
“The tragedy of Cougar Flight 491 remains a stark reminder of the risks many workers face on the job – whether offshore, in mining, construction, or other industries. These jobs requires demanding physical and mental work, and the risk for safety is something that cannot be overlooked at any capacity.
“We owe it to those workers, and to the families who have lost loved ones, to take every possible step to improve workplace safety. That’s why today, I am continuing the NDP’s calls for strengthened workplace health and safety measures.
“We must implement the key recommendations from the Health Accord NL, including the establishment of a dedicated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Clinic. Workers deserve timely access to specialized care and support when they are injured or made ill as a result of their job.
“We also call for the collection and public reporting of employer safety records to ensure greater accountability and transparency in workplace safety. Workers and their families deserve to know that strong systems are in place to protect them and that employers are being held to the highest safety standards.
“We must honour the memory of those lost in the Cougar Flight 491 tragedy, and all those impacted by workplace accidents, by strengthening protections for all workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.”