NDP Leader Howard Hampton today blasted the McGuinty Liberals for ignoring shortcomings with the legislation that governs the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, the agency responsible for monitoring facilities like the Toronto propane plant that exploded on Sunday.

“Dalton McGuinty’s government knew full well that there were many problems with the law, that its shortcomings posed a serious risk to public safety. When they were in opposition, they joined with New Democrats to rail against the Techical Standards and Safety Act. (Note: see accompanying Hansard transcripts for more.) In government, they’ve had five years to fill the gaps and strengthen the regulations, but they did nothing,” said Hampton.

“Once again, this shows that Liberals talk a good game, but when push comes to shove, there’s little action to back it up.”

Hampton wants to see the Act amended to allow for more stringent inspection protocols - currently inspections for propane facilities are once every three years - and to end the kind of self-regulation that covers industries such as the propane industry.

“Public safety needs to be paramount. The law as it is presently written leaves far too many gaps when it comes to inspections and reporting guidelines. The incident on Sunday should be a wake-up call that the law needs to be strengthened to ensure real public, accountable oversight,” said Hampton.

* Also see accompanying Hansard transcripts of what current senior members of the McGuinty government had to say when the TSS Act was being debated in the Legislature.

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines):
“I expressed in the second and third readings of this bill, when I had an opportunity to speak, my great concern about the trend it continues. I won't say the trend it sets, but the trend it continues, because more and more we're having this government place the fox in charge of the henhouse; that is, those who have a close connection to what is being supervised, and perhaps have a vested interest, are those who are now doing the supervising. I think somebody who is arm's length, an agency which is totally arm's length, is much more appropriate.”

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Mr Dwight Duncan (Windsor-St. Clair):
“Thank you. I listened attentively to the Minister of Labour when he spoke about the purpose of this bill being who regulates best. In fact the purpose of the bill is contained in section 1. The government suggests that through this bill it is going "to enhance public safety in Ontario." We fundamentally disagree with that on a whole range of fronts. . . . The point is, and it isn't a laughing matter because it's a very serious issue, how do we best regulate? How do we ensure the utmost in public safety? My colleague from Don Valley will be addressing the question and addressing some very specific examples of where self-regulation doesn't work. While it may be a matter of humour to the government side on these issues, we think it's a very serious issue.”