Burnaby, B.C. – The United Steelworkers is marking the fourth anniversary of the Lakeland Mills explosion in Prince George with a renewed call for a public inquiry into the tragedy that, along with the explosion at Babine Forest Products, killed four workers and injured dozens more.
“When the attention of our entire province turned north following these two horrible tragedies, Premier Christy Clark promised answers and accountability. Four years later, we have neither,” says Stephen Hunt, United Steelworkers Director for western Canada.
“The Coroner’s inquests that were held in 2015 left families and victims with more questions than answers and hasn’t delivered on the justice that the Premier promised. Recommendations coming from the inquest were voluntary and did not deliver the necessary changes to hold employers or agencies like WorkSafeBC responsible for their negligence,” Hunt says.
According to the Steelworkers, the flawed investigations by WorkSafeBC that failed to produce any accountability have left an ever-present cloud on the tragedy that needs to be cleared.
“These families have been devastated by the loss of loved ones. They deserve to have the answers that the Premier promised them four years ago,” says Hunt.
The explosion at Lakeland Mills killed Alan Little and Glenn Roche and seriously injured 22 others. The United Steelworkers, along with family members, community and First Nations groups, has been calling for a public inquiry into the two sawmill explosions. A petition supporting this call has nearly 12,000 signatures on it at www.usw.ca/inquiry.
For further information:
Stephen Hunt, USW District 3 Director, 604-816-2554
Brad West, USW Communications, 604-683-1117, bwest@usw.ca
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