International Workers' Memorial Day, MPs and unions call for stronger safety protections

On April 28, International Workers' Memorial Day, MPs and unions held remembrance events and warned that cuts to workplace safety are putting lives at risk. Unions urged the European Union to adopt a binding heat law after pointing to rising deaths of workers who must keep working in extreme heat. Local actions included a noon wreath-laying at Edward Place Park beside Calgary City Hall to honor those killed or injured on the job. Campaigners said the UN-backed day matters because budget cuts and climate-driven heat are turning routine work into a lethal risk without stronger laws and enforcement.