Concluding Opinion
After several pages worth of examination and inspection, we have come to the point wherein we must answer a most difficult question: "has the issue of poor working conditions endured by Canadian labourers finally been resolved?" I feel that for the most part, this issue can be seen as having been resolved, at least as much as a major social issue ever can be. The century examined by this website has seen some significant developments in the Canadian Labour Movement: the rise of unionization, the development and election of a Provincial labour party, the merging of two significant labour parties into a popular Federal labour party, the achievement of union rights for Government employees, the development of laws and standards regulating occupational health and safety, the increased participation of women in the labour force. This is a significant change from 100 years ago. Although I have taken the stance that this issue has been resolved, one must note that the issue of poor working conditions, still does exist to an extent. Examples of this include the increase in work-related fatalities in the last few years and the still-significant issue of working poverty.
Due to the horrors endured by Canadian labourers as a result of poor work environments, and the poverty and starvation they faced as a result of low wages, it is important to take measures to prevent such a social problem from ever arising again. First and foremost, it is essential for all Canadian workers to be protected by strict Federal legislation regulating working conditions and their education regarding such matters. Secondly, it is important for the general public to be made aware of the stories of oppressed labourers through media coverage, in order to allow for public intervention in Government affairs e.g. legislation. Thirdly, it is important for workers themselves to be made aware of the risks in their own work environments by their employers in order for them to determine whether or not such work would be acceptable. This can be done through memos, bulletins, the results of government-conducted inspections of their workplaces.