Transport Canada disregarding safety?

Transport Canada has a big role to fill – it is responsible for most of the transportation policies, programs, and goals of the government of Canada.

Transport Canada has a big role to fill – it is responsible for most of the transportation policies, programs, and goals of the government of Canada. But, the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees has pointed out that Transport Canadaโ€™s latest round of layoffs continues to show its disregard for safety.

The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, which represents the majority of unionized workers at Transport Canada, is reacting to the news that more employees have been advised of an impending layoff. The union said another 157 people were told that they may lose their jobs, bringing the grand total to 370 employees affected. Of these positions affected today, 107 will be eliminated, the union said. โ€œIncluded in this number is the elimination of communication specialists and various administrative functions and, most notably, all regional health and safety advisors who were recently hired to help bring the department into compliance with federal health and safety legislation.โ€

Christine Collins, National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, said: โ€œFor the last 10 years, the union has been trying to get Transport Canada to be in compliance with the federal regulations on occupational health and safety. Now they are eliminating the very people that are tasked with this critical work. These cuts show how little Transport Canada cares for the people who work for them or the health and safety of its employees.”

Also among those receiving notices today, the union added, are technical inspectors responsible for marine safety and security, as well as civil aviation airworthiness inspectors. “We are deeply concerned for the safety of the traveling public. Once again, inspectors in marine safety and security, as well as civil aviation, are being chipped away at a time when we both know there are not enough inspectors to do the work,” added Collins.

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Nell Alcantara

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