During Emergency Preparedness Week, British Columbians are reminded to begin planning now for the summer wildfire season.

British Columbians who live in or near a forest are reminded that they can help reduce the risk of forest fires that may threaten their homes by taking simple steps to clear their yards and homes of combustible materials and vegetation. Suggestions and tips can be found in the FireSmart Homeowner's Manual available from local fire departments or online at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/firecom/pdf/homeowner-firesmart.pdf

Before the wildfire season begins, homeowners should check insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage against fire damage to belongings, property and buildings - whether the fire starts within the structure or from the surrounding forest.

As fire insurance is reasonably and readily available in B.C., provincial disaster financial assistance does not apply to fire damage.

Residents should make an inventory or video of all belongings. Keep it in a fireproof container with other important documents as proof for insurers in the event of an insurance claim resulting from a fire.

Safety measures for homes and properties during the wildfire season:

• Start with a general yard cleanup. Remove needles, branches and underbrush that could fuel a fire.
• Get rid of brush, long grass and anything growing under large trees that could cause a fire to spread into those and neighbouring trees.
• Prune low-level branches up to at least 2.5 metres above the ground and keep your grass mowed.
• Move your woodpile and other flammable materials away from your house or other buildings. Flammable materials should be at least 10 metres away and uphill from your home.
• Replace bark mulch with gravel or decorative rocks.
• If your home or business is on a slope, pay particular attention to the downhill side of your property. Fire can race uphill and burn trees, brush, grass or other flammable materials.

Contact:

Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 356-6961

The key to enjoying outdoor adventures is education and ensuring those who venture into B.C.'s wilderness know the risks and take necessary precautions to mitigate those risks.

Whether you're out for a few hours or a few days, here are some tips that can improve your chances of survival outdoors:

1. Take the time to plan your trip in advance:

• Check the weather.

• Tell someone where you're going.

• Plan your destination, your intended route and an alternate route.

2. Pack the right gear:

• Flashlight and spare batteries.

• Firemaking kit with waterproof matches or lighter and firestarter or candle.

• Signalling device, such as a whistle or mirror to signal searchers if you get lost.

• Extra food and water (one litre per person).

• Extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection).

• Navigational/communication aids, such as maps, compass, GPS, cellular or satellite phones, or handheld radio.

• First aid kit.

• Emergency shelter including an orange tarp or orange garbage bags.

• Pocket knife.

• Sun protection such as glasses, sunscreen and hats.

3. Have the right training:

• Get the skills and knowledge you need before heading out.

• Know how to use your navigational aids and your first aid kit.

• Practise using your firemaking kit, so you're prepared for all weather conditions.

For more tips on preparing for outdoor adventures, visit: http://www.adventuresmart.ca/index.php

Contact:

Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 356-6961

The regulations follow the B.C. government's approval of Canada's first provincial metal theft law in November 2011.

Under the new regulations that will come into effect July 23, British Columbians trying to sell metals often targeted by thieves will need to present identification to the scrap purchaser, who will in turn share purchase details daily with police.

As well, purchasers who fail to register with the Province and fulfil record-keeping and sharing requirements under the new law will risk fines of up to $100,000, as well as up to six months' imprisonment.

The new regulations are the result of extensive consultations with utilities, municipalities and scrap metal dealers. They are designed to respond to the significant number of thefts that continue to incur tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to utility and municipal assets across B.C., including copper telephone wire, manhole covers and sign posts. The Province has also worked with municipalities to ensure the law and regulations complement existing bylaws in a dozen B.C. communities.

The July 23 implementation date will allow time to educate metal dealers, recyclers and their customers, and to ensure those who must register have time to do so. An estimated 60 to 70 dealers and recyclers will be affected.

The law aims to greatly limit the resale market for stolen assets, through a strong regulatory regime backed by significant fines for non-compliance, and to ensure metal thieves are identified and prosecuted, through mandatory, strategic collaboration between regulated metal dealers and police.

The Province has also worked with the recycling industry to minimize associated regulatory costs and protect the personal information of those who sell metal to scrap dealers.

Quotes:

Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Effectively deterring metal thieves really is a matter of public safety. Metal thieves interfere with telephone service and emergency communications, and often leave live wires in their wake, posing the threat of electrocution to maintenance and repair workers and other innocent people."

"We've taken time to ensure our law will work - as a deterrent, as something that doesn't impose unnecessary cost or regulatory burden on the recycling sector, and as a complement to existing bylaws that have proven effective at the local level in many communities."

Ken Haertling, vice-president and chief security officer, TELUS -

"When thieves cut live TELUS cables, they are cutting access to 911, putting lives at risk. They also cost our business customers, who rely on our connection for their credit card and Interac machines and force TELUS to send crews out to repair lines, often in the middle of the night in dangerous conditions."

"This happened 380 times last year, and we're seeing a similar pace so far this year."

"The regulations introduced today will be an important tool in the fight against this crime, making it harder for thieves to sell stolen material without imposing an undue burden on the majority of scrap metal dealers who are honest business people offering an important service."

Staff Sgt. Aaron Paradis, Surrey RCMP -

"We support any legislation that works to deter crime, and assists us in identifying and following up with those who continue to break the law."

Quick Facts:

• Metal theft frequently causes widespread phone service disruption, endangering public safety. Last December, more than 500 Maple Ridge residents lost 911 emergency service after thieves stole copper telephone wire.
• TELUS has estimated each of the 200 metal theft incidents it dealt with in the Lower Mainland last year cost $50,000 on average to repair.
• About a dozen Lower Mainland municipalities have metal theft bylaws complementary to the new provincial legislation.

Learn More:

View the news release from the act's introduction in November 2011:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2011/11/metal-theft-law-to-protect-public-safety-infrastructure.html

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. metal theft regulations

The new regulations:

• Define the types of metal the law covers.
• Set out the information dealers and recyclers must collect about the person selling regulated metal with a description of the regulated metal.
• Require dealers to send a daily report, detailing the regulated metal they have purchased, to police, who will compare these records with reports of stolen metal.
• Require dealers to share these details daily with their local police and keep them for at least a year. Dealers must also record each seller's full name, current address, telephone number and date of birth, as well as vehicle or pick-up address details.
• Ensure dealers assign a unique code to each customer who sells them metal, to protect customers' privacy rights. The code will accompany purchase information police receive. Dealers will only release a seller's personal information if police present a court order for that information.
• Prohibit dealers from buying regulated scrap metal from any seller unable or unwilling to provide required information.
• Create a dealer registry and appoint inspectors to ensure compliance and enforcement.
• Curb walk-in traffic by individuals who want quick cash, whom police have identified as a source of metal theft. To close this market for stolen metal, the regulation limits cash transactions of regulated metals to $50.
• Exempt commercial transactions from the recording and reporting requirements.
• Authorize police and ministry inspectors to issue violation tickets. Dealers and recyclers covered by the law will not pay a fee to register - but those who fail to do so or fulfil their duties under the law will risk tickets of $100 to $500 for minor infractions. Continuing non-compliance may result in administrative penalties or fines of up to $10,000 for an individual or $100,000 for a company, plus up to six months' jail time, upon conviction.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961

The two were among four persons on a jet-boat that capsized on the Willow River about 40 km northeast of Prince George on the afternoon of May 6. The other two occupants of the boat were able to make it to safety, but the two women were unable to do so.

One body was recovered on the evening on May 6 downstream from the site of the incident. The second body was recovered on the morning of May 7 near a logjam at the site of the capsizing.

The two have been identified as Christy Schwing, 31, and Carolyn Simpson, 43. Both resided in Prince George.

The families of Ms. Schwing and Ms. Simpson have been notified. On behalf of the families, the Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy.

The BC Coroners Service offers its condolences to the families and friends of Ms. Schwing and Ms. Simpson, and its appreciation for the work done by search-and-rescue crews, volunteers and RCMP in the search and recovery efforts.

Contact:

Coroner Donita Kuzma
Regional Coroner, Northern Region
BC Coroners Service
250 565-6040

If passed, the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act will create an independent tribunal offering 24/7 online dispute resolution tools to families and small business owners as a speedy and cost-effective alternative to going to court. The tribunal would address disputes by providing parties with information that may prevent disputes from growing and resolve disputes by consent or, where necessary, by an independent tribunal hearing. Resolving a dispute through the tribunal is expected to take about 60 days, compared to 12 to 18 months for small claims court.

Giving families alternatives to seeking solutions in court is among the B.C. government's justice reform initiatives to achieve efficiencies and deal with growing resource pressures. The February 2012 Green Paper, Modernizing British Columbia's Justice System, identified tribunals as a simple and less expensive solution to easing delays in the court system.

Quote:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Both individuals and business owners will find this a convenient and affordable way of reaching agreements. Few people want to go to court to solve a legal dispute, which can be costly, intimidating and time consuming. A tribunal offers an innovative alternative to settling a dispute in a faster, more amicable way."

Quick Facts:

• The new service is the first of its kind in Canada and is expected to be in place by 2013-14. It will use mainly online web technologies, with some assistance by phone or mail.
• Tribunal fees would be less than small claims court and overall costs significantly less than court proceedings because the legal resources used would be proportionate to the dispute's complexity.
• Final decisions and tribunal orders could be enforced by filing them with the Provincial or Supreme Court.
• Today's legislation aligns with an international trend towards using tribunals, mediation and other dispute resolution models to reduce reliance on adversarial styles of litigation.

Learn More:

Information on the tribunal:

www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/civil-resolution-tribunal-act/index.htm

Information on strata property and the tribunal: www.housing.gov.bc.ca/strata

Justice reform: www.justicebc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 387-4962 or 250 889-5945

BACKGROUNDER

Online dispute resolution explained

Resolving disputes in less adversarial ways benefits people who see each other regularly, such as neighbours in strata properties. For rural British Columbians, the online tribunal would reduce legal fees and travel costs. In addition, families who need child care, newcomers with limited English and business owners who want convenient and quick solutions would also benefit from the anytime, anywhere services.

Civil Resolution Tribunal:

• The service would use proven online technologies and be voluntary, except for strata corporations, which could be compelled to participate for certain strata disputes. Once online dispute resolution is started, ongoing participation would be mandatory until a voluntary or binding settlement was reached.
• The service would have four stages, with participants progressing to the next stage only if they were unable to reach agreement:
• The first phase would be an interactive dispute resolution guide, with information, tips and templates to help the parties reach a settlement.
• Stage two would be party-to-party negotiations, using online tools to make contact and exchange information. The tribunal would monitor and intervene in the discussions if necessary.
• Stage three would involve a case manager, who would contact the parties by phone or online to discuss the issues and attempt a facilitated settlement.
• If that failed, the final stage would be a tribunal hearing. A tribunal member would discuss the issues with the parties online, by phone, videoconference or occasionally in person and give a binding decision on the dispute.

• Tribunal members would be subject experts in the disputes they hear and be selected based on merit. Members would be appointed by cabinet.
• Several Australian states have mandatory civil administrative tribunals for small claims.
• Alternatives to online resolution, such as telephone, mail and even in-person hearings, would be available to people unable to access the online tools. British Columbians would still have the alternative of going to court.

Strata dispute resolution:

• Last year, the Province consulted extensively on an alternative strata dispute resolution model. The consultations wrapped up with a discussion paper and online survey.
• The public consultation results demonstrated strong support for a tribunal, with 95 per cent of respondents to the online survey indicating they favoured a tribunal model.
• The tribunal will make dispute resolution services available to strata owners and offer an accessible, efficient and lower-cost alternative to the current arbitration and court system.
• There are more than one million strata property owners and residents in the province. Approximately 29,000 strata corporations make decisions under the Strata Property Act.

Contact:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 387-4962 or 250 889-5945

Amendments to the notice to mediate (family) regulation under the Law and Equity Act require parties involved in B.C. Supreme Court family disputes to attend at least one mediation session if anyone involved in the dispute requests it. A mediator will meet each party in advance to discuss how mediation works and exchange documents or expert reports. The act will permit exceptions if mediation is unsafe.

The family mediation project began in Nanaimo in 2007 to encourage families to reach agreements without the time, cost and emotional burden of going to court. It expanded to Victoria and Duncan in 2008 and was adopted in Vancouver and New Westminster in 2009.

Mediators are available throughout British Columbia. If the parties are unable to agree on a mediator, one will be appointed from a roster of mediators registered with a roster organization such as Mediate BC.

The provincewide expansion of the regulation is one of a series of steps government is taking to give families involved in legal disputes alternatives to court. Most significantly, the Province passed a new Family Law Act last November that places the best interests of children first when making any decisions involving the child and modernizes the justice system by addressing issues B.C. families are facing today. The Family Law Act is expected to come into force in 2013. These changes are among initiatives government is taking to achieve efficiencies and deal with growing resource pressures on the justice system.

Quotes:

Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Mediation is a real alternative for families who don't want to go to the expense of a trial, but want assistance to make decisions about their divorce or separation. This is the type of progressive, non-court based reforms we envisioned when the Family Law Act was being modernized."

Kari D. Boyle, executive director, Mediate BC -

"We support expansion of the notice to mediate (family) as an additional way for families to resolve their problems quickly and affordably. Mediators can promote understanding and assist families to reach their own tailor-made solutions through an informal and flexible process that preserves relationships."

Quick Facts:

• The parties must either agree on a mutually acceptable mediator within 14 days after the notice is served or one will be appointed from a roster of registered mediators.
  
• The session must occur within 60 days of appointing a mediator and at least 14 days before the trial date. If the parties cannot reach agreement at the first session, mediation can either continue or they can go to court. The mediator may end the process if they conclude it will not be productive or is inappropriate.
• Families can obtain independent legal advice before participating if they desire it.
• Unless otherwise agreed to, mediation costs are shared equally.
• Ministry of Justice family justice counsellors can offer free mediation to lower-income families who do not require assistance with dividing shared property.

Learn More:

Notice to mediate regulation:

http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/justice-reform-initiatives/family-projects/notice-to-mediate-family.htm

The regulation is also available in PDF format to be faxed or mailed: http://bit.ly/IataFY

Mediate BC: www.mediatebc.com

Ministry of Justice family justice counsellors:

www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice/help/counsellors

Contact:

Jeff Groot
Communications Director
Ministry of Justice
250 920-9203

The proposed Motor Vehicle Act amendments will enhance fairness and strengthen public confidence in the process for drivers whose roadside breath samples yield either "warn" or "fail" readings on an approved screening device (ASD). The amendments are critical to sustain the public safety benefits and justice reform facilitated by providing police with tough, immediate roadside prohibitions, as an alternative to pursuing the full criminal process for those who provide a failing breath sample.

The proposed changes are designed to address the court's concerns about providing failing drivers with a way to meaningfully challenge the roadside breath-test results:

* Making it mandatory for police to advise drivers of their right to challenge the first test result by completing a second test. Currently, officers are not legally required to inform drivers of this right.

* Requiring police to advise drivers that the lower of the two readings will prevail. Under the existing law, when a driver opts to take a second test, its result prevails - higher or lower.

Other amendments are designed to improve administrative fairness and provide drivers with the opportunity for a more rigorous review through the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles:

* Expanding the grounds for administrative review to include the reliability of the ASD results, whether police advised the driver of his or her right to a second test, whether police conducted that second test on a second ASD, and whether the IRP was issued on the basis of the lowest reading. These grounds relate to the expanded requirements of police officers at the roadside under the amendments.

* Requiring sworn reports from police to the superintendent. This new requirement will support the reliability of evidence officers submit to support IRPs.

* Requiring police to submit documentation about the calibration of the ASD device or devices used. This new requirement will support the reliability of the ASD readings under review.

The amendments are designed to fully address the B.C. Supreme Court ruling of Nov. 30, 2011, concerning the constitutionality of part of the existing IRP law. The court found the current legislation infringes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as the existing administrative review process does not provide a driver the ability to meaningfully challenge the "fail" result of a roadside breath test. The court granted government's request that the declaration of unconstitutionality be suspended until June 30, 2012, to allow time to amend the law.

The amendments will see IRPs resume as an alternative to the Criminal Code process for drivers found in excess of the legal limit of .08 per cent blood-alcohol content (BAC). This alternative can save police and the courts considerable time and resources. Police will retain the right to pursue the Criminal Code process, which has been the default approach since the B.C. Supreme Court ruling.

B.C. brought Canada's toughest provincial sanctions for drinking and driving into force on Sept. 20, 2010. The first full year with these rules saw a 40 per cent drop in alcohol-related traffic deaths, compared to the average over the previous five years.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General -

"This is about maintaining the proven, life-saving value of our impaired driving law while ensuring that we fully comply with the requirements of the Charter. We want police, drivers and judges to have utmost confidence in the reliability of the roadside procedure and the fairness of reviews to those who dispute the results.

"B.C.'s tough, immediate roadside prohibitions will continue to deter people from drinking and driving, and continue to enable police to immediately remove alcohol-impaired drivers from our roads, enhancing public safety."

Chief Const. Peter Lepine, president, B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police -

"These amendments should clear up any misunderstanding by drinking drivers who misinterpreted the Supreme Court ruling as a way to escape the consequences of their dangerous decisions. The fact is, police officers remain steadfast in enforcing the law, whether you blow a 'warn' or a 'fail' - and we applaud the Province for responding to the court's ruling in a fulsome, timely manner."

Quick Facts:

* When the Province introduced its IRP legislation in 2010, it set a goal to reduce impaired driving fatalities by 35 per cent by the end of 2013. This goal was exceeded in the first year after implementation.

* From Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011, the total number of alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths across B.C. was 68. This represents a decrease of 40 per cent from the 113 such deaths on average in the previous five years.

* If passed, the proposed amendments will apply to all cases involving "fail" or "warn" breath samples.

* The B.C. Supreme Court ruled as constitutional the existing IRPs for drivers who provide a breath sample in the "warn" range (between .05 and .08 per cent blood alcohol content) or refuse or fail to provide a breath sample. Nevertheless, to ensure a fair, consistent approach for police and drivers alike, the proposed amendments will apply from the day they come into force, for all drivers.

* The Province will work to pass the proposed amendments during the spring 2012 legislative session and bring them into force on June 15, 2012.

* Under the original IRP law, drivers impaired by alcohol faced immediate penalties that may take away their vehicle and their licence, and cost them anywhere from $600 to about $4,060 in administrative sanctions and remedial program costs. The proposed amendments would not change this cost structure for IRPs that are upheld.

Learn More:

Read about the first-year effectiveness of IRPs:

www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011PREM0155-001524.htm

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

The recommendations are the conclusion of the work of a Coroners Service Death Review Panel, which brought together experts from all segments of the coastal aviation industry and safety professionals to examine systemic issues involved in float-plane crashes and how they might best be addressed.

The panel examined in detail four crashes, which occurred along the coast from 2005 to 2009. A total of 23 persons died in the four crashes.

"These recommendations should be considered very seriously by the agencies to which they're directed," said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe. "They are the result of open and frank discussion and review by a diverse blue-ribbon panel of experts in the field provincewide, and they are based on an aggregate review of several crashes, not a single incident. I extend my thanks to the panel members for their efforts and the diligence with which they approached this review."

The majority of the recommendations are directed toward improved regulation of the industry with others addressing such issues as plane design, weather-forecasting and record-keeping.

A summary of the recommendations is attached. The full Death Review Panel Report and a list of panel members are available on the BC Coroners website at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/publications/index.htm#deathreviewpanel

The death review panel process was instigated by the Coroners Service through a legislative amendment in 2007. It allows the service to examine issues and trends covering a specific category of death through a process of aggregate review, rather than simply a review of each individual death.

A backgrounder and factsheet follow.

For more information, please contact:

Barb McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253 or 250 213-5020

BACKGROUNDER

May 1, 2012 Ministry of Justice

BC Coroners Service

Summary of Recommendations

1. It is recommended that Transport Canada create a regulatory requirement that all new and existing commercial seaplanes be equipped with emergency exits that would allow rapid egress following a collision with water.

2. It is recommended that Transport Canada create a regulatory requirement that all passengers and crew of commercial seaplanes wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) during all stages of flight.

3. It is recommended that Transport Canada create a regulatory requirement that illumination strips identifying emergency exits be installed onboard all commercial seaplanes.

4. It is recommended that Transport Canada introduce a requirement that all certified aircraft be equipped with a battery-disconnect "gravity switch" or a similar system that severs connections with electrical power sources in a collision, thus removing a potential source of post-impact fires.

5. It is recommended that Transport Canada undertake a formal review of the efficacy of available stall warning systems, including angle of attack indicators, for applications in all certified aircraft, with the objective of identifying systems that would enhance pilot's awareness of the angle of attack and allow for early recognition of situations that my result in an aerodynamic stall if uncorrected.

6. It is recommended that Transport Canada create a regulatory requirement that all new and existing commercial aircraft be equipped with real-time satellite tracking systems.

7. It is recommended that Transport Canada initiate research into technologies that would allow seaplanes to stay afloat, or significantly delay the rate of sinking, following collisions with water.

8. It is recommended that the configuration of the pilot seat and restraint system as observed in the Beaver aircraft involved in the Saturna Island accident, and currently in use on some other Beaver aircraft, be examined to determine whether it meets its intended purpose of providing efficacious restraint of the occupant in a survivable collision.

9. It is recommended that Transport Canada develop a process for issuing of Operational Directives, similar to the existing Airworthiness Directives processes, to enable speedy and efficient dissemination of safety-related information and directives addressing operational safety issues.

10. It is recommended that Transport Canada eliminate the granting of Operations Specifications that allow commercial VFR fixed-wing operations in reduced visibility conditions.

11. It is recommended that Transport Canada require commercial VFR operators to provide their pilots with annual decision-making training specific to the scope of operations; and further, that Transport Canada require commercial VFR operators to provide annual decision-making training to all critical personnel that provide support to the pilot, including flight followers and company management.

12. It is recommended that Transport Canada develop standardized curriculum for underwater egress training and make underwater egress training mandatory for flight crews involved in commercial seaplane operations; and further, that enhanced safety briefings outlining underwater egress procedures be mandatory on all commercial seaplane flights.

13. It is recommended that Transport Canada create a requirement that all commercial seaplane pilots undergo training that includes a component on avoidance of, and recovery from, sudden encounters with hazards such as conditions that are below Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) minima, low level flight over glassy water and in poor visibility, and other typical hazards frequently encountered by seaplane pilots.

14. It is recommended that Transport Canada develop standardized curricula for Mountain Flying Training and develop criteria for measuring students' proficiency in reaching the acceptable standard.

15. It is recommended that NAV CANADA engage in a consultation process with Environment Canada Meteorological Services staff and British Columbia's floatplane community, with the objective of improving the quality of weather camera imagery available through the Aviation Weather website and increasing the number of web camera placements in critical coastal locations.

16. It is recommended that the British Columbia floatplane industry associations develop a strategy for gathering metrics that identify accident rates and patterns, show safety trends and support the development of accident prevention measures.

17. It is recommended that the British Columbia floatplane industry associations encourage the operators that make up their membership to formally compile information on significant hazards specific to the operators' routes and provide flight crews with formal briefings or training and information on such hazards, supplemented with information on standard operating procedures and best practices for mitigating these route-specific hazards.

18. It is recommended that the BC Forest Safety Council include in the SAFE Companies audit protocols a component that specifically addresses the issue of worker transport onboard aircraft; and further, that the BC Forest Safety Council develop a resource package specific to air carrier standards and best practices.

19. It is recommended that the WorkSafeBC consider development of guidelines to workers' compensation legislation promoting underwater egress training for employees who regularly commute to worksites over water on board aircraft.

For more information, please contact

Barb McLintock

Coroner, Strategic Programs

BC Coroners Service

250 356-9253 or 250 213-5020

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

FACTSHEET

May 1, 2012 Ministry of Justice

BC Coroners Service

Aviation incidents in British Columbia

• Number of fatal aviation incidents in B.C. from January 2000 through December 2009: 111.
• Number of persons who died in those incidents: 202.
• Commercial flights were involved in 34 per cent of the incidents.
• A total of 42 per cent of the deaths occurred on commercial flights.
• The largest percentage of commercial aviation deaths resulted from incidents involving transport of workers to remote work sites or camps.
• Incidents studied in detail by the Death Review Panel:
• Feb. 28, 2005: Aircraft carrying pilot and four passengers to remote worksites in Knight Inlet area crashed into water. Five deaths, no survivors.
• Aug. 3, 2008: Aircraft carrying pilot and six passengers to remote logging operation crashed into steep, forested slope near Alice Lake, 14 miles from Port Hardy. Five deaths, two survivors.
• Nov. 16, 2008: Aircraft carrying pilot and seven passengers to remote worksite at Toba Inlet crashed into hillside on South Thormanby Island. Seven deaths, one survivor.
• Nov. 29, 2009: Aircraft carrying pilot and seven passengers on commercial flight from southern Gulf Islands to Vancouver International Airport crashed into water shortly after takeoff. Six deaths, two survivors.

For more information, please contact:

Barb McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253 or 250 213-5020