Yukon NDP wants oil furnace industry regulated
2-year-old report says most inspected furnaces failed industry standards
CBC News
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 1:17 PM CST
Last Updated: Feb 10, 2012 1:05 PM CST
The Yukon NDP has uncovered reports showing the government was warned years ago that the unregulated industry was putting the lives of Yukoners at risk.
"Yukoners are still reeling from the tragic loss of life just two weeks ago," said Liz Hanson, leader of the New Democrats, who are calling for the Yukon Party government to regulate the industry.
Five people died last month in Whitehorse of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in a home heated by an oil-burning furnace. The investigation is ongoing.
NDP researchers have now come across reports at least two years old, warning the government of the dangers of malfunctioning oil furnaces.
"It was very upsetting to me as a citizen and a politician because we expect we can trust our government to take action when they have information," said Hanson.
Self-regulation 'has put Yukoners at risk'
After five successive surveys, Ontario furnace experts found almost all Yukon installations they inspected failed to comply with national standards.
"Only four of the 305 sites inspected between 2007 and March 2010 complied with the minimum standard code for installation and maintenance of appliances. That is 1.3 per cent of the sites inspected," said Rod Corea of NRG Resources Inc., which provides safety and technical training and consulting services on fuel-burning appliances.
"Self-regulation has failed to supply minimal safety standards and indeed has put Yukoners at risk in their oil heat industry. Hopefully you will find the results of this survey helpful. Hopefully you will be able to take action to do something about them before something unfortunate happens."
About 80 per cent of Yukon homes are heated with oil furnaces. Critics point out that teens in the fast-food industry require more training than furnace inspectors in the territory.
"You can be more confident in Pizza Hut or A & W that the person there is more aware of the risks that can happen to you in their establishment than the person that is going in to check your furnace. And that's upsetting," said Kate White, New Democrat MLA for Takhini-Kopper King.
The oil burner safety report from 2010 is now available from Yukon Housing Corporation officials.
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