Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

April 28th, 2008

Sullivan Mine disaster victims remembered in Legislative Day of Mourning ceremony

On the steps of the Legislature to commemorate the National Day of Mourning, Opposition Labour critic Chuck Puchmayr remembered the victims of the Sullivan Mine Disaster.  Surrounded by caucus colleagues including the Leader of the Opposition Carole James, Puchmayr spoke passionately about the commitment he has made to ensure government takes action to protect workers.

“Last year I was in Kimberley for the National Day of Mourning,” said Puchmayr in a speech from the Legislative steps.  “We continue to remember the workers who were lost in the Kimberley Mine disaster.”

The four deaths were caused by entry into an oxygen-depleted confined space.

The canary is the symbol of the National Day of Mourning in reference to the canary in the coalmine.

Puchmayr reminded the audience that the loss of these four workers due to unsafe working conditions is a reminder to us all that we must fight against the deregulation of workplaces.

“It is of vital importance that we do all that we can to ensure that every worker arrives home safely at the end of each work day.”

Both Puchmayr and the MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke are continuing to push the government to implement Recommendation 12 of the Sullivan Mine Coroner’s Inquest which would provide the inspections and the penalties needed to keep mine workers safe.

Puchmayr introduced a private member’s bill in the House today intitled Mineworkers Safety Act, 2008