Yukon NDP Reissues Call for Public Inquiry into Porter Creek Deaths in light of Ontario Mall Collapse Decision
WHITEHORSE– NDP Leader Liz Hanson today reissued the call for a public inquiry into the carbon monoxide poisoning deaths of five Yukoners in Porter Creek. Hanson’s comments came on the heels of Friday’s announcement by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty that a full public inquiry will be held into the collapse of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake.
“On Friday, less than one week after the tragic mall collapse in Elliot Lake that killed two people, Premier McGuinty of Ontario did the right thing and called a full public inquiry,” Hanson said. “Since then, a number of people have approached me and asked why there has been no inquiry into the deaths of five people in Porter Creek. Are public health and safety just not as important to Yukon’s government?”
In announcing the inquiry, McGuinty said that the mall collapse raises “important questions” and that an inquiry is part of the province’s “obligation to do whatever we can to prevent similar tragedies and respond in the best way possible when they do happen.”
“Premier McGuinty seems to understand that public confidence has been shattered and won’t magically restore itself,” Hanson said. “To rebuild that confidence and console a grieving community, light must be shone on the mall collapse incident from every possible angle. All factors must be considered in the hopes that something will be learned. The preventable death of five Yukoners is no less worthy of a public inquiry.”
Four members of the Rusk family and Donald McNamee died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their Porter Creek home in late-January 2012. Despite the passage of more than five months since the deaths, Hanson said it’s not too late for Yukon’s premier to demonstrate leadership.
“Yukoners have been waiting for answers, and it’s time for the Premier to deliver,” Hanson said. “It’s not too late for the Premier to show that he cares. It’s time to launch a public inquiry that will get to the bottom of how this tragedy unfolded. Yukoners have a right to know how our system of laws and standards for furnace installation, maintenance and inspection failed their fellow residents. It’s up to government to take the lead and determine how similar losses of life can be avoided in the future.”
To date the Yukon Party government has refused to respond to the call for a public inquiry, instead preferring to give the excuse that the investigation of the coroner has not been completed.
“As the case in Ontario shows, there’s nothing to prevent a premier from calling a public inquiry while other investigative processes continue,” Hanson said. “There are questions a public inquiry can ask that are outside the scope of the coroner or the government’s working group on oil fired appliances. They are questions of a life and death nature that must be answered. What’s Premier Pasloski waiting for?”