A return to written question asked by Mr. Lewis to the Minister of Safety and Public Services concerning the responsibility of mines to provide adequate fire fighting equipment:

Operating mines in isolated locations do have a responsibility to make appropriate fire fighting provisions at the mine site. The fire safety requirements in the current Mining Safety Act for mines which are not operating but are in a construction phase, such as the Colomac mine, are not as stringent as those for operating mines, and this anomaly will be addressed in the proposed new legislation.

The Department of Safety and Public Services ensures that mine sites have appropriate fire fighting capabilities. In February, when the last inspection occurred at the Colomac mine, the fire fighting equipment was in operating condition. The mine did not advise the mine safety division when the equipment ceased functioning.

This matter will be deal with further by the mine safety division.