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.
