No promises from McGuinty on mining inquiry

The mother of one of the miners killed at Vale's Stobie Mine last year met briefly with Premier Dalton McGuinty after his visit to Health Sciences North's Sudbury Outpatient Centre Nov. 15.

Wendy Fram, whose son, Jordan Fram, was killed at the mine in June 2011 along with co-worker Jason Chenier, was waiting in the lobby when the premier was about to leave the facility, and introduced herself.

The Sudbury woman was recently elected chair of a new group called Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone's Support (MINES), which is pushing for an inquiry into mining practices in the province.

McGuinty agreed to speak with her, and they chatted in private for about eight minutes in one of building's meeting rooms, according to Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.

Northern Life attempted to contact Fram, but she was not immediately available.
“She said he was very sympathetic,” said Gélinas, who spoke to Fram after her conversation with the premier.

“He told her he has children about the same age as her son that died, and as a father, he understands how hard of a time she's going through.

“She said she would like him to support the call for a (mining) inquiry. He said he wouldn't make any promises. She said she will send him a follow-up letter.”
In the past, McGuinty has stated the province won't consider a mining inquiry while inquests for the dead miners are underway.

But an inquiry was launched after two women were killed in the collapse of the Elliot Lake mall, McGuinty said.

“That was one of the arguments she brought forward,” Gélinas said. “There's an inquest going on for the death of the two women in Elliot Lake, but then the inquiry is going on at the same time.”

The MPP said she told Fram that her conversation with McGuinty was positive.
“No promises made there, but at the same time, he didn't shut the door either,” Gélinas said.

“I kind of told her he could have gone out of his way to explain why he would not (launch a mining inquiry). He did not do that. The door is open.”

A mining inquiry is needed because there's so many recommendations stemming from coroner's inquests, but they're not implemented industry-wide, Gélinas said.

“It is time to look at them, look at the trends, and look at how do we learn from that body of evidence that already exists.”