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Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt paid a visit to North Bay on Tuesday. Raitt was in town for a roundtable discussion hosted by Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin, which also featured twelve representatives from the mining community. The main focus of the discussion was occupational health and safety. Raitt said it’s very important for her to hear about practises on the ground in Canada, so she can talk with her international counterparts and work to implement good health and safety practises in operations around the world. She said what she heard from local mining members was the importance of education about occupational health and safety. The results of the roundtable discussion will be posted online for the public’s viewing. Raitt’s next stop Tuesday was Sault Ste. Marie and then Red Lake, where similar meetings with mining members is planned. Raitt was also asked about recent back-to-work legislation tabled in the Air Canada dispute with its pilots. She noted the government had to intervene on behalf of the Canadian public’s interest.

Written by: lisa.laporte@northbayradio.rogers.com