With the fall session of the Alberta Legislature set to end next week, it’s obvious that the United Conservative government will not be bringing in legislation called for in the judicial inquiry into a Calgary care worker’s death.
In October 2019, Deborah Onwu, an employee of Woods Homes Society, was stabbed 19 times while working alone with Brandon Newman – then a resident of the society. Newman had complex needs, a history of violence, and assorted cognitive and mental health issues. Onwu, who was an experienced and highly trained counsellor, was working alone at the time and did not know Newman’s full history of violence.
Following the death of Onwu, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) requested a fatality inquiry. The inquiry released four recommendations on September 18th, calling for legislative changes that would make care workers safer.
CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal says the lack of action by the UCP government is heartbreaking.
“When Deborah was killed, her employer was following all the required laws and regulations, but they weren’t enough,” said Uppal. “That’s why Justice Jivraj made four recommendations that would protect workers – but the UCP seem ready to ignore them and hope the report gathers dust.”
Uppal says CUPE will keep pushing for changes to support care workers.
“We have draft legislation that the government can introduce today. The issue has been studied and re-studied. The UCP needs to act before more care workers lose their lives.”