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By Canadian Press

Alberta RCMP reviewing whether COVID-19 death of meat-plant worker was criminal

Jan 11, 2021 | 2:34 PM

CALGARY – RCMP in Alberta are reviewing whether the COVID-19 death of a worker at a Cargill meat-packing plant last spring is a criminal matter.

Cpl. Tammy Keibel, district media relations officer for southern Alberta, says one of the worker’s family members dropped off an information package at the RCMP’s High River detachment south of Calgary on Friday.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 says Benito Quesada’s family took a courageous step by asking police to investigate Cargill for criminal negligence.

Quesada, a 51-year-old shop steward with the union, was one of two workers at Cargill’s plant near High River to die from COVID-19 when the virus infected nearly half of 2,200 employees.

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A class-action lawsuit filed against Cargill last summer alleges the U.S. company failed to take reasonable precautions to protect its workers.

Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan says the company can’t comment on the latest complaint because it hasn’t seen it or been contacted by the RCMP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2021.

The Canadian Press