ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. -- The inquiry into the deadly collapse of a mall in Elliot Lake, Ont., two years ago reported on Wednesday. Some key recommendations:
- The province should establish minimum standards of maintenance for buildings like the Algo Centre Mall.
- Properly qualified structural engineers should inspect buildings when sold, more frequently if public safety dictates.
- Make information about building condition easily accessible and understandable to owners, the public and potential buyers.
- Enforcement of standards should be straightforward and make public authorities accountable for their decisions and actions.
- Professional engineers and municipal building officials should be trained and certified, and information about them accessible to owners and the public.
- Increase capacity of search and rescue teams to respond to structural collapses.
- Have one person in charge of an emergency response.
- Improve communications among emergency responders, and between responders and the public, especially victims.
- Improve federal funding of heavy search and rescue teams across Canada.