Wait time between deaths and inquests needs to be shortened, critics say

Morning North6:44Push to speed inquests up

One of the recommendations from the inquest into the death of miner Stephen Perry was that wait time between the death and the inquest be shortened. We spoke about the idea with Mike Bond, Health and Safety Chair of United Steelworkers Local 6500.

The inquest into Stephen Perry's death wrapped up last week — more than four years after he died.

Now the jury that looked into the circumstances around his death is recommending to the province that it shorten the wait time for an inquest after somebody dies on the job.

The regional supervising coroner for inquests in Ontario said the main reason for the delay is because an inquest can't begin until all criminal and occupational health and safety act charges have worked their way through the courts.

"That can take more than 10 years," Dr. David Eden said.

"It's typically two to three years. It's a matter over which we at the coroner's office have no control."

But Brittany Boyd-Perry, the fallen miner's daughter, said it's been a long wait for closure.

"It's always in the back of your mind … When's it going to come? What will I be doing? What will my family be doing? It's hard knowing that — [and for] the workers as well — they have to come here and relive the whole moment they went through."

Eden said he understands the frustrations of family, and tells them to be prepared for a long wait.

Changes to workplace safety don't have to wait for an inquest, he noted.

They often come right after the accident.

Eden added that worker deaths in Ontario have been declining for 40 years — in part because of recommendations brought in from inquests.

Nevertheless, the president of United Steel Workers Local 6500 said the time spent waiting for an inquest needs to be shortened.

"I'm happy for [Perry's] daughter Brittany and the family that this is finally over, but we need to definitely push hard to ensure that these inquests doesn't take four years," Rick Bertrand said.

"It takes too long and it just reopens the wound for everybody."

Stephen Perry's brother Tom told CBC News that four years was "a ridiculously long time" to wait, but that he had "heard that was below average. This was a quick one."

Getting started with changes 'right away'

The Ministry of Community, Safety and Correctional Services told CBC News the inquest wait time for mining deaths is usually two to three years, but there are no time limits between the date of death and when an inquest is held.

Inquests are mandatory for deaths at construction sites, mines, pits and quarries. There are between 36-40 inquests a year in Ontario.

Eden said it's important to note that workplace recommendations are often implemented "within the first few hours" of an investigation, and are "communicated to other workplaces in Ontario."

"We would not want people to say 'we're not going to change anything until the inquest happens'," he continued.

"Even if we could do the inquest a month later, a month is too long to wait. We want to get started with those changes right away."