NDP MP Explores Mill Charges
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www.pgcitizen.ca FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014 Newsstand $1.70 incl. tax | Home Delivered 70¢/day NDP MP explores mill charges Arthur WILLIAMS Citizen staff [email protected] Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen is investigating whether a rarely-used amendment to the Criminal Code can be used to bring charges against the own- CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN ers of Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills for a pair of mill On a explosions that killed four workers and injured 42 others. Cullen met with survivors and roll family members of workers caught Hazel Westle, 93, in the mill explosions on Sunday in delivers a bowl Burns Lake. Cullen said he is work- during the inaugu- ing with the NDP’s legal counsel to ral Moose Family examine if Bill C-45, known as the CULLEN Centre ladies only Westray Bill, can be used to bring carpet bowling charges against the mill owners. gathered from the site” inadmis- tournament. Six “It was a powerful meeting with sible in the Lakeland Mills case. teams competed in survivors of both [mill explo- The Crown ruled that it was the one day event at the Moose Hall. sions],” Cullen said. “I can’t be- unlikely to achieve a conviction in lieve two explosions, two fatal mill either case. explosions, and no charges have The Westray Bill, passed into been laid. I’m dumbfounded that law in March 2004, added a clause this is the system we’ve created.” to the Criminal Code saying, On Jan. 20, 2012 an explosion “Every one who undertakes, or destroyed much of Babine Forest has the authority, to direct how Products mill in Burns Lake. Later another person does work or per- that year, on April 23, a similar forms a task is under a legal duty explosion and fire destroyed to take reasonable steps to prevent Lakeland Mills in Prince George. bodily harm to that person, or any WorkSafeBC investigations into other person, arising from that the incidents concluded ineffective work or task.” dust control methods at the mills Prior to the bill being passed, contributed to sawdust explosions there was nothing specific in the in both cases. Criminal Code addressing the However, after reviewing the ev- legal responsibility of employers idence gathered by WorkSafeBC, not to put their employees at risk, the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch Cullen said. did not proceed with regulatory In his meeting with the workers or criminal charges against either and their families, Cullen said he company. was asked to look into the possibil- In its reports on the incidents, ity of charges under the Westray the Criminal Justice Branch said Bill. that WorkSafeBC’s investigation “Their entire intention is that “would render significant evidence this doesn’t happen again,” he that it gathered inadmissible in said. “I was very careful not to court,” in the case of Babine For- raise their expectations.” est Products and “some evidence — see ‘WE, page 3 Owners ready City rethinking for new life with Cats bike plan Ted CLARKE Citizen staff Ted CLARKE Citizen staff swing of things and get this thing roll- [email protected] ing. I never thought this would come In response to public pressure from a group of Cougars take up, to be honest.” concerned citizens, the city is revisiting its plan Eric Brewer accomplished his first Brewer and Vancouver Canucks to scrap the upgrading of bike lanes along North official duty as part-owner of the Prince centre with defenceman Dan Hamhuis are part of a Nechako Road. George Cougars from the other side of group of local investors in the Cou- At the request of city council, city adminis- the continent. Kitimat roots gars franchise that includes majority tration is preparing a report that will contain The 35-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning owner Greg Pocock and Prince George detailed cost estimates of the Nechako Road defenceman got on the phone at his PAGE 9 businessmen Ernest Ouellet, Raymond repaving project. home in Florida and contacted some of Fortier and John Pateman. “As far as I know, the widening of the road and the bantam players the Cougars picked Hamhuis, a 10-year NHL veteran the paving of bike lanes has not been budgeted,” Thursday in the WHL draft in Calgary back to the team where the experience I played for the Cougars from 1998- said Phil Mullins, part of the North Nechako Bike to welcome them to the team. had was so good and it was such a posi- 2002 and has never been a teammate Path Committee. “We’re hoping that this would For Brewer, a 16-year NHL vet- tive highlight in my life,” said Brewer. of Brewer’s but they are friends away be priority number one, because it’s been a com- eran who played three seasons for the “I’m a lucky guy, I love the game and I from the rink and both have wives from mitment in the Active Transportation Plan. The Cougars from 1995-98 and played well love the Western League as well, so this Prince George and mutual friends. road resurfacing has been approved and the city enough as a junior to get drafted fifth opportunity was tough to ignore. Now, as WHL owners, with their ties to has always said to this neighbourhood they will overall by the New York Islanders in “I talked to a couple of the kids after the NHL, they share at least one more add the bike lanes when they resurface because it 1997, coming back to the WHL as an they got drafted and they were pretty common bond that stands to benefit the will save money.” owner is a dream come true. excited, which is great, and it’s kind of Cougars. — see ‘IT COMES, page 3 “It’s such a good opportunity coming exciting for all of us too to get in the — see BREWER, page 9 Today’s Weather ANNIE’S MAILBOX 29 OPINION 6 Contact Us BRIDGE 29 B.C. NEWS 7 CLASSIFIED: 2505626666 Hi +10° HOROSCOPE 2 CANADA NEWS 8 READER SALES: 2505623301 COMICS 28 WORLD NEWS 17-18 SWITCHBOARD: 2505622441 Low 0° CROSSWORD 28 SPORTS 9-11, 16 CLASSIFIEDS 21-23 See page 2 for more details 05 and short-term forecasts 58307 00200.