The MP for St. John’s East has expressed concern in the House of Commons this week over Bill S-3.

The NDP’s Jack Harris says he is worried that government is letting offshore health and safety regulations lapse, leaving workers without protection under the law. Harris says what was put in place in 2014 is no longer enforceable and “that is unconscionable.”

The federal government was tasked to create new offshore health and safety regulations six years ago after interim regulations were put in place following the Cougar inquiry. The original deadline for completion was the end of 2019 but that was extended until the end of 2020 – “which again was not met” says the NDP.

Harris says government has known for years that the deadline was coming and there is no excuse for allowing regulations protecting workers to expire.