Not enough resources for mine review: Horwath

In the wake of local smelter worker Paul Rochette's death, provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the province to provide adequate resources to the panel currently doing a review of mining safety.

“It has been 30 years since a provincial commission investigated mine safety,” Horwath said, in a press release.

“Since then miners in Ontario have been killed and thousands of others have been injured. Last year, the premier rejected a public inquiry into mine safety and instead chose a review.

“But at the first public hearings in Timmins and Kirkland Lake, the government didn’t advertise or even put out so much as a press release or media advisory inviting participants. Does the premier think this is acceptable?”

Rochette was killed in an accident at Vale's Copper Cliff smelter April 6.

Earlier this week, Horwath called on all MPPs in the legislature to observe a moment of silence to remember his life.

Elected representatives need to do everything in their power to end workplace deaths and injuries and demanded the premier commit to improving the government’s mining safety review, she said.

“The premier refuses to conduct a mine safety inquiry,” Horwath said.

“Will she make a commitment today that the government’s review panel into mine safety will have the resources necessary to conduct numerous site visits to mining operations both below ground and above ground?”