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On April 28, workers across Canada come together to mourn the dead and fight for the living.
This year, the Quinte Labour Council is highlighting workers facing burnout, chronic stress, and mental health crises caused by work and honouring those we have lost to work-related psychological harm. Every workplace injury or death is preventable, whether the harm is physical or psychological.
The reality facing workers is stark. Nearly half of working Canadians say their job is the most stressful part of their daily lives. 70 percent of workers are concerned about the psychological healthand safety of their workplace.
In 2023 alone, more than 8,500 workplace mental health injury claims were accepted by compensation boards, with health care, education, public services, and the trades among the hardest-hit sectors. The actual number of workers is likely far higher.
Workplace injuries – both physical and psychological – are serious and must be treated as such. Yet work related stress, burnout, harassment, violence, and psychological harm are too often dismissed or ignored. These injuries are real, they are preventable, and they’re not “just part of the job.”
Every worker in Canada has the right to safe work. It’s understood that employers are required to control physical, ergonomic, and chemical hazards. Psychosocial hazards must be treated with the same seriousness.
Marg Bourgoin
President, Quinte Labour Council
I’m sure all Canadians felt proud watching Jeremy Hansen field questions from school children all over, in both official languages no less!
I will argue that Jeremy and his fellow astronauts have not taken a giant step forward, but more impotant kind of step: a step back, to look at the big picture.
In times of crisis and when facing problems, we’re often encouraged to “step back and look at the big picture.” What this brave team of humans saw was a little, fragile football, spinning in space.
It’s pretty obvious that we lead a damn tenuous existence here on earth.
Yet those in charge and who ought to know better persist in activities fuelled by greed and lust for power, doing their utmost to destroy our home.
Most of us are being led like sheep to satisfy others’ agendas. Isn’t it high time we come to our senses and step back NOW?
Jai Darshanand, Picton
Attention all ecological & organic farmers in Prince Edward County…..this bursary is just for you! The County Sustainability Group is pleased to announce a 7th year in 2026 for our Bursary for PEC Ecological & Organic Farmers. $500 will be awarded by the end of May to a farmer in Prince Edward County who best demonstrates the values of ecologically sound, sustainable farm practices to regenerate soil health, protect vital resources such as water and biodiversity, reduce the need for synthetic inputs, and prioritize renewable energy.
We especially acknowledge, with this bursary, the challenges faced by young farmers just starting out in ecological & organic farming or trying to maintain or expand an existing operation. This is an expensive undertaking and not for the faint of heart. Every little bit can help, perhaps going towards new seeds, greenhouses, equipment, soil revitalization, irrigation, livestock, land leases, renewable energy or any number of important aspects of modern organic farming.
Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the goals of Ecological Farmers of Ontario (EFAO). Candidates should submit their application letters by the end of April to Don Ross at [email protected].
Don & Heather Ross, Milford
On Tuesday, April 21, Council will receive a deputation from Mark Johnson, former federal PC candidate and founder of Save Our History, proposing to return the statue of John A. Macdonald, “Holding Court,” to Picton Main Street. Mr. Johnson has drafted a motion for Council proposing:
—Direction to reinstall the statue
—Report from staff on costs
—Consultations regarding an accompanying plaque
Organizations like Save Our History and the Canadian Institute for Historical Education are campaigning to reverse the impact of the findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Statues of Macdonald are a current focus. Picton is on their list of key battlegrounds.
Our community has gone back and forth on what to do with Holding Court. Most recently — by which I mean a few years ago — a thoughtful, balanced path forward was adopted by Council nearly unanimously. Unfortunately, that path was summarily rejected by the then “owners” of Holding Court. Revisiting this path forward is more sensible than turning back the clock to before we gained a better understanding of Macdonald’s place in Canada’s history, and his devastation of First Nations especially.
I encourage anyone who’s concerned about Council’s response to Mr. Johnson’s deputution to write the Members and show your support for the homegrown path forward at the meeting.
Paul Allen, Picton
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