Gov’t. accused of sitting on furnaces report

The NDP is accusing the Yukon government of sitting on recommendations regarding the safety of oil-burning appliances.

The NDP is accusing the Yukon government of sitting on recommendations regarding the safety of oil-burning appliances.

Party leader Liz Hanson publicized a 2010 report this morning that showed most oil furnaces in Whitehorse and Haines Junction — where the surveys were completed — are not up to national code standards.

The report, completed by Rod Corea of Ontario’s NRG Resources, recommends a change in legislation when it comes to installing and maintaining oil-burning appliances.

One of these recommendations includes a mandatory training and licensing program for oil burner mechanics.

Hanson said she was upset that this report is not available on the Yukon Housing Corp.’s (YHC’s) website.

She seemed even more frustrated by the fact the government has had the survey results for a full five years.

“We expect we can trust our government to take action when they have information,” she said.

“They’ve had this information starting in 2007…it’s just been radio silence since then.”

This is the fifth report Corea has completed since 2007.

He found that of the 305 appliances inspected during the three-year period, only four were up to code.

That’s a 99 per cent failure rate.

In the last survey, Corea re-inspected 42 appliances he had looked at in previous surveys. He found 220 infractions, 67 per cent of them considered “significant”.

“The re-inspection of previously inspected sites shows that owners and their contractors are not correcting problems or are creating more problems when corrective action is taken,” he wrote in the report.

He believes action should be taken as soon as possible to prevent an incident causing harm to person or property.

“All five surveys provide clear evidence that a large percentage of oil-burning equipment in the Yukon is not properly installed or maintained.”

The only regulation for oil-burning appliances, as of July 2010, is residents must obtain a permit if installing or modifying a furnace.

The Department of Community Services website says that “while no permit is required for routine maintenance, having the work done by a qualified technician will help ensure the job’s done right.”

Hanson, alongside Kate White, MLA Takhini-Kopper King, Jan Stick, MLA Riverdale South and Lois Moorcroft, MLA Copperbelt South, distributed Corea’s latest report at this morning’s press conference.

The party also screened a 10-minute video showing Corea speaking to industry professionals, explaining his latest finding last March.

“The government needs to define what the playing field is,” he said in the video. “Voluntary inspections have limited effect.”

Hanson acknowledged that Yukoners are still reeling from the sudden deaths of the Rusk family and friend Donald McNamee in their Porter Creek home at the end of last month. They are believed to have died from carbon monixide poisoning.

The NDP is not trying to prejudge the outcomes of the investigation, she continued.

The party is calling on the government to commit to implementing mandatory training and licensing program for oil burner mechanics, and require landlords to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors.

The NDP also wants the government to review the process of appointing government inspectors and “make an explicit” commitment to introduce whistle-blower legislation.

Hanson said she knows there were several public servants who knew the government was doing nothing about the reports but were told to say nothing.

“People in the industry know in the heart of hearts that self-regulation doesn’t work,” Hanson said.

“The government needs to have the courage to just get up and do it’s job. It’s not rocket science. It’s good government.”

Scott Kent, the minister responsible for the YHC, told the Star late this morning “some action” has been taken since the first report was released in 2007.

He referred to the oil burner mechanic training courses Yukon College has offered, as well as public education the government has funded through advertisement among other initiatives.

As to whether he’s willing to look at changes to the legislation, Kent said he doesn’t yet know.

“Given the tragic accident, it’s a bit too early to say what type of action we’re going to take,” he said.

White was the only other NDP MLA to comment at this morning’s press conference.

She compared the fast food industry to the heating industry. People working with food have to obtain a food safe certificate to make sure they’re aware of all the potential dangers, she said.

“In basic terms, we have higher standards right now for teenagers working in fast food restaurants than we do of an industry that takes care of your family,” White said.

“This was identified as a problem, and nothing was done.

“We should be angry.”