03) MAKE CORPORATE CRIMINALS PAY FOR SAWMILL DEATHS

 

BC Committee, Communist Party of Canada, Jan. 25, 2014

 

            It is shocking and unacceptable that criminal charges will not be laid in the 2012 explosion at Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake. The BC Committee of the Communist Party of Canada demands immediate action against those who bear responsibility for the deaths of two workers and the injuries of 20 others.

 

            The claims by Crown counsel that charges should not be laid because of perceived shortcomings in the investigation certainly point to a resistance against holding corporate interests accountable for their actions. This is unfortunately not surprising in British Columbia, where employers rarely face serious consequences for workplace deaths, injuries and diseases.

 

            The thorough investigation into the Burns Lake catastrophe by WorkSafe BC made it clear that the owners of Babine FP failed to take steps to avoid a preventable explosion. Their failure to install and maintain an efficient dust collection system led directly to the deaths of Robert Luggi and Carl Charlie. There is no other possible conclusion - given the strong evidence that the owners are guilty of homicides, they should face appropriate legal charges, and the maximum penalties available under the Workers' Compensation Act.

 

            The BC Committee CPC agrees with the BC Federation of Labour, which has called for swift action to reassure the public that investigations into workplace deaths will be carried out swiftly and competently, with charges whenever warranted. The health and safety of the workers of British Columbia must have a higher priority than protection of corporate profits, not the other way around.

 

            Fearful of the political blowback from this situation, Premier Clark has appointed her deputy, John Dyble, to conduct another investigation, but this will not lead to criminal charges. This process is therefore simply a face-saving exercise for Christy Clark, who is in truth the "Corporate Premier" of B.C., not the "family premier" as she claims. We call upon Clark to use her powers to bring the Babine Forest Products owners to justice.

 

(The above article is from the February 1-14, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)