The provincial government announced a 90-day action plan into sawmill safety today, after Labour Minister Shirley Bond met with industry and labour stakeholders.
However, NDP leader Adrian Dix says the plan is missing a public inquiry into the 2012 Babine Mill explosion, which left two dead and over 12 injured.
“You bet we’re going to keep the pressure on,” he said to Aaron McArthur on Unfiltered.
“Imagine if you’re a worker at Burns Lake…and you hear the government having a meeting two years, two months and two days after this to put together an action plan,” he said.
“They’ve been more concerned with photo ops and their political issues than the substance of this issue.”
Survivors are calling the government’s decision to have a coroner’s inquest rather than a full public inquiry “salt in the wounds.”
“We were told that it wouldn’t answer the questions we have…we are determined to find the truth, and the government should be doing the same thing,” said Kathleen Weissbach, whose husband was critically injured in the explosion.
Over 40% of B.C.’s sawmills are not in compliance with government regulations. Forests Minister Steve Thomson says the action plan includes doubling the number of inspectors and will help make mills across the province safer.
But he refuted the NDP’s call for a full inquiry.
“This is true public accountability and the inquest jury has the opportunity to make recommendations not only to prevent future deaths…but also any matter arising out of the inquest,” he said.
“We feel that the coroner’s inquest will address the questions and the issues.”
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