Editor:
Two deaths, 40 injuries, two preventable incidents, no prosecutions, finger-pointing between government agencies, families without answers, laws designed to protect workers not enforced and the stunning failure of the B.C. government and the companies which own the mills to respond adequately to what happened.
If ever we needed an independent public inquiry, we need one into the Babine and Lakeland explosions, and the failure to keep workers safe in B.C. That is what the victims and their families, the B.C. NDP and so many others are calling for.
Both incidents were preventable 鈥� the reports into both conclude that. Both were linked to a buildup of wood dust 鈥� a combustible hazard that government has known about for years. And in both cases, a botched investigation by WorkSafe BC and the Liberal government means that no one, will be held liable for deaths and injuries that were preventable.
The present situation is intolerable. No conclusions drawn as to why a preventable accident wasn鈥檛 prevented. Families are left with the display of Crown Prosecutors, WorkSafe, the companies involved and the Liberal government all pointing fingers at one another. The coroner鈥檚 Inquest that is scheduled is inherently limited in scope. Families demand the truth that only an independent inquiry can now bring.
Other public inquiries in B.C. have been successful at bringing to light these kinds of failings. The Air India inquiry and the inquiry into the tasering death of Robert Dziekanski are two such examples where a full public inquiry was called, lessons were learned and systems and regulations were reformed.
In 2002, the Liberal government made fundamental changes at Worksafe, cutting benefits to injured workers, reducing worker safety regulation and cutting premium rates. 12 years later, the minister responsible acknowledges the organization has lost its way. Front-line workers raised the issue for example of combustible dust years prior to these incidents but action was not taken by the organization or the government.
In 2004, a federal law came into effect called the Westray Law, which gave prosecutors the ability to prosecute companies, directors and senior management in the event of death or serious injuries in workplace incidents. Since 2004, there have been 1350 workplace related deaths, countless injuries and not a single criminal charge laid in B.C. under Westray. Not one charge.
These facts should point to systemic failure, a failure of which the 亚洲天堂 Lake and Prince George fires are just the latest symptom.
After the Babine and Lakeland explosions, Premier Clark visited workers and their families in Prince George and 亚洲天堂 Lake. She went to Babine again, four days before the provincial election for a photo op. But the justice she promised has not been delivered.
It is time for the Premier and her government to keep their word to the people of 亚洲天堂 Lake and Prince George. It鈥檚 time for justice for the workers at Babine and Lakeland. It鈥檚 time to put worker safety first. It鈥檚 time for a full public and independent investigation into WorkSafe BC.
Adrian Dix
MLA Vancouver Kingsway
