Macdonald pushes Minister on recommendations

April 4, 2008

BY CAROLYN GRANT
Kimberley Daily Bulletin

Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald had a brief opportunity in the Legislature this week to question Minister of State for Mines Kevin Krueger on the Sullivan Mine Inquest recommendations, and asked if the Minister planned to take further action on Recommendation 12.

“I was very disappointed to find that despite your claim that all of the Sullivan Mine inquest recommendations have been addressed the fact is that the key recommendation that would actually provide true protection for mine workers and the public is still missing.

“Recommendation 12 is absolutely clear.  The inquest requires that the Ministry establish a minimum yearly inspection of all mine sites and an increase in the penalty provision to be enforced in reflection of the seriousness of non-compliance.

“I do not accept that the Ministry can simply walk away from that recommendation by saying that it is not physically possible.  If mine inspection is as you claim a top priority of your Ministry you will simply overcome the logistical and financial challenges and do as the inquest recommendation demands.

“I also do not accept that nothing will be done to ensure that serious penalties follow noncompliance.

“In this tragedy where for people lost their lives, existing regulations within the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia were not followed.  Yet, despite this failure to comply, no penalty was assessed.  Any reasonable person would say that until the penalty is a true deterrent, non-compliance will continue.”

Macdonald says that rather than give a straight answer, the Minister ‘danced all around it’.

“I think we can interpret that as meaning he is going to have to be pushed on this,” Macdonald said.

“People in Kimberley know that two rules were broken, around recording entry on and off the property and that people working alone be contacted every two hours.  Certainly not following those rules led to them not knowing someone had tragically passed away.

“The Coroner’s Jury said that you need meaningful penalties.  We all know that there are rules to be followed and there are sanctions in place if they ar not.  If you park illegally, you can expect a fine.  If there is no enforcement what is the incentive to follow the rules?

“I have been clear in my commitment to the families of Doug Erickson, Bob Newcombe, Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier, and to the people of Kimberley, that I will continue to fight for the implementation of every single recommendation made by the inquest jury.

“For me and for the families, this issue is not yet resolved.  I ask people to support this effort by pushing the Minister to do so by letter or email.  In our system, that does have an impact.”

Minister Krueger can be reached by mail at:

Honourable Kevin Krueger, Minister of State
PO Box 9070 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Or email through the provincial government website www.gov.bc.ca.