Punjabi Patrika
Friday, July 26th, 2013
PAGE 35
New Democrats call on government to put safety of mill workers first New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government to release the full report into the tragic explosion at the Babine Forest Products Mill in Burns Lake. The explosion took place 18 months ago, and there has since been another explosion at the Lakeland Mill in Prince George.
ed to “destroy any copies, excerpts or references… to prevent inadvertent disclosure” of the original report. “Last week, we heard that 25 mills in this province have dangerous levels of dust build-up, sufficient to pose a risk of an explosion,” said New Democrat forest critic Norm Macdonald. “What possible reason could this government have to suppress a report that could help the industry to reduce this unacceptable level of risk?
“The rebuilding of the Lakeland Mill began today, but critical questions still remain about the relationship between dust and danger in B.C. mills,” said “Tens of thousands of women and New Democrat leader Adrian Dix. men will go to work in B.C. mills toThe government has released only a morrow – their safety is of paramount censored report into the Babine mill importance.” tragedy. The full 100-page B.C. Safety Authority report was due out in Janu- The explosions at the Babine and ary, but following an emergency meet- Lakeland mills killed four people and ing with ministers Rich Coleman and injured 42. New Democrats are calling Shirley Bond, and former minister Pat on the government to release the full Bell, only a 10-page version with the BCSA report and any other informareport’s recommendations was released tion that could help keep B.C.’s mill publicly. Board members were instruct- workers safe.
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