The NDP calls for a public inquiry into the Lac-Mégantic tragedy

NDP Transport critic Hoang Mai (Brossard—La Prairie) has requested that the Conservatives launch a public inquiry into the Lac-Mégantic tragedy.

“It’s time that we get an independent public inquiry into the transportation of dangerous goods by rail. We want to be sure that the improvements in railway safety will be enough to prevent any further tragedies. Understanding exactly what took place in Lac-Mégantic is part of the solution,” said Mai.

Radio-Canada investigative reporting program, Enquête, recently showed that the Transportation Safety Board report on the Lac-Mégantic tragedy had been watered down. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has also raised serious questions regarding Transport Canada’s lack of transparency on matters of railway safety.

“We can’t restore public trust by allowing such important decisions to be made behind closed doors. We need to learn from our mistakes. It’s time we take action and show some transparency,” added Mai.

A public inquiry into the Lac-Mégantic tragedy would shed light on the measures that have been implemented to avoid another catastrophe. Canadians want to know the truth, not a watered-down version of the facts or the compromised public safety that this Conservative government has given them. Canadians deserve better.