Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce Bill 5, the Mine Health and Safety Act. The preparation of the bill is the result of three years of hard work by not only the staff in my department, but also by those who participated in the process from the mining industry, both labour and management. I would like to sincerely thank the Standing Committee on Legislation for the excellent advice and support that Members gave me personally with respect to the conduct of this bill. I also would like to thank the Mine Occupational Health and Safety Board for their valuable recommendations.
First of all, I want to emphasize the responsibility of our government to represent the public interest in mine occupational health and safety legislation. This is achieved by having standards of worksite safety which minimize the human suffering and public expenditures associated with accidents and industrial disease.
Mr. Chairman, this bill is markedly different from the present Mining Safety Act and regulations which has been criticized as being both antiquated and unwieldy. The structure and content of the new bill reflects recommendations made over the years by special commissions, coroners' inquests and a long list of accident investigation reports. In addition, this bill has been written so as to be readable, understandable and accessible to all persons.
Mr. Chairman, Bill 5 sets out clearly the responsibility of all persons engaged in mining whether owner, management, supervisor, employee, contractor or mine inspector. Unlike the existing Mining Safety Act, this bill also provides for the establishment of occupational health and safety committees for mines, and sets out the responsibility of the committees to conduct worksite inspections and to participate in inspections conducted by inspectors.
The new bill clearly describes the right of an employee to refuse to perform any work or operate equipment which may endanger the health and safety of the employee or any other person. This right is clearly supported by a further provision that prevents discrimination against any employee who exercises the right to refuse.
Furthermore, the bill sets out the powers of inspectors to inspect or search a mine and the duties of persons at a mine to cooperate with an inspection or a search.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, the new Mine Health and Safety Act contains many changes too numerous to mention in these opening remarks. I and my officials will be pleased to answer any questions you may have as we proceed with the clause-by-clause review of the bill.
Mr. Chairman, I also want to thank again, the Standing Committee on Legislation for their advice. While at the time, I may have thought it may be difficult, I think from the changes that we've made and the idea of setting up a totally new board we were able to successfully conclude the matter. Thank you.