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Inquiry underway into mall collapse
Monday, 4 March 2013 - 3:07pm
Two women died in the collapse at the Algo Centre Mall on June 23, 2012.
The probe also will be looking at whether the emergency response to the disaster was adequate.
The inquiry is expected to hear from as many as 75 witnesses over the next several months.
Belanger hopes to issue his report with recommendations by January, 2014.
Following opening remarks, the various lawyers introduced themselves and offered their overview thoughts.
Lawyer Roland Aube, who represents local interests at the inquiry, said the mall’s collapse and deaths struck “a serious blow to the citizens of Elliot Lake and one many believe could have been prevented.”
Aube’s co-counsel, Doug Elliott, noted the collapse was not the result of some “extraordinary event” such as a terrorist attack. Many people had the opportunity to prevent the tragedy but “failed to do so,” Elliott said.
“We thought someone would do something before it was too late.”
Commission counsel Peter Doody filed 1,884 numbered exhibits.
He also stressed the inquiry is a fact-finding exercise, not a blame game.
“Our duty is not to advance or defend the interests of any particular party,” Doody told the hearing.
Still, assigning blame is important for the families of the two victims, Lucie Aylwin, 37, and Doloris Perizzolo, 74, who are suing several parties for their deaths.
“We’re looking forward to the evidence that establishes who’s at fault,” lawyer Roger Oatley, who speaks for the families, said in an earlier interview.
“Armed with the evidence that we hear and see at the inquiry, we will know at whom we should be pointing the finger in our lawsuit.”
Bob Nazarian, whose Eastwood Mall Inc. owned the Algo Centre when the roof caved in, maintains he is blameless.
But Elliott insisted maintenance of the long-leaking roof-deck declined under Nazarian.
By Colin Perkel THE CANADIAN PRESS
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont.—The public inquiry into last June’s deadly collapse of the mall in Elliot Lake, Ont. began today with an outline of the process and the filing of exhibits.
In an opening statement, Commissioner Paul Belanger stressed the aim is to find out why the roof-top garage caved in, not to find blame or legal fault.
The probe also will be looking at whether the emergency response to the disaster was adequate.
The inquiry is expected to hear from as many as 75 witnesses over the next several months.
Belanger hopes to issue his report with recommendations by January, 2014.
Following opening remarks, the various lawyers introduced themselves and offered their overview thoughts.
Lawyer Roland Aube, who represents local interests at the inquiry, said the mall’s collapse and deaths struck “a serious blow to the citizens of Elliot Lake and one many believe could have been prevented.”
Aube’s co-counsel, Doug Elliott, noted the collapse was not the result of some “extraordinary event” such as a terrorist attack. Many people had the opportunity to prevent the tragedy but “failed to do so,” Elliott said.
“We thought someone would do something before it was too late.”
Commission counsel Peter Doody filed 1,884 numbered exhibits.
He also stressed the inquiry is a fact-finding exercise, not a blame game.
“Our duty is not to advance or defend the interests of any particular party,” Doody told the hearing.
Still, assigning blame is important for the families of the two victims, Lucie Aylwin, 37, and Doloris Perizzolo, 74, who are suing several parties for their deaths.
“We’re looking forward to the evidence that establishes who’s at fault,” lawyer Roger Oatley, who speaks for the families, said in an earlier interview.
“Armed with the evidence that we hear and see at the inquiry, we will know at whom we should be pointing the finger in our lawsuit.”
Bob Nazarian, whose Eastwood Mall Inc. owned the Algo Centre when the roof caved in, maintains he is blameless.
But Elliott insisted maintenance of the long-leaking roof-deck declined under Nazarian.
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