Jamie West visits the Sudbury OHCOW office

This June 1, 2025, will be the first year that Injured Workers Day is officially recognized in Ontario. Sudbury MPP James West made it happen. The date has always been well noted since its inception on June 1, 1983, yet it was not formally recognized. Sudbury MPP and NDP Labour critic Jamie West has long been pushing to have June 1 made official as Ontario's Injured Workers Day. He introduced his Private Member's Bill, Bill 118, the Injured Workers Day Act,  in the Ontario legislature last year.

United Action

It was in 1983 that over 3,000 injured workers showed up on the steps of Queens Park. At the time,  Ontario's workers' compensation system was being rewritten. In an unprecedented move, the committee left their conference room and met the crowd of workers outside in front of the building. The new legislation that was passed a year later protected pensions for injured workers. Since this date, workers across Ontario have recognized June 1st as Injured Workers' Day, but it was never officially recognized by the Province.  This Sunday, June 1 a gathering will be held at Queen's Park in Toronto to celebrate the gains made through united action. Read more here.

The Announcement of the Bill

In a Dec. 12, 2024 news release, the local MPP and Ontario NDP labour critic announced the successful passing of the bill, which was 41 years in the making. Jessica Montgomery, OHCOW Occupational Health Coordinator and president of the Sudbury and District Labour Council, noted in the news release that it is important to remember workers still need more protections and coverage.

Last year Mr. West visited the new Sudbury office during OHCOW's 35th anniversary. He complimented OHCOW for its wealth of health and safety resources for workers, and presented a congratulatory scroll to Brittney Ramakko, the executive director of the Northern Region.

OHCOW, other supporters and worker advocates were always behind him in the initiative, and stood with West on May 24 when he announced plans to submit a private members bill to have the date declared officially in Ontario.

Read more here.

PHOTO RIGHT: Sudbury MPP Jamie West with supporters in May 2024