TORONTO, July 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The Hon. Paul Bélanger, Commissioner of the Elliot Lake Inquiry, has announced counsel who will serve on the independent public inquiry established by the Government of Ontario to look into the collapse of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake that claimed two lives.
They are Peter K. Doody, Bruce Carr-Harris and Mark Wallace. Messrs Doody and Carr-Harris are partners with the Ottawa branch of the national firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Mr. Wallace is a partner at the Ottawa law firm of Carroll &Wallace.
Mr. Doody has particular expertise in public law, administrative law and commercial litigation. He appeared as counsel to the Rt. Honourable Jean Chretien at the Gomery Inquiry and counsel to the Correctional Investigator at the Arbour Inquiry into events at the at the Prison for Women in Kingston.
Mr. Carr-Harris practices as general counsel in civil litigation with a strong emphasis on public law, defamation, construction litigation, product liability, commercial litigation, professional liability, intellectual property and commercial litigation, including injunctions, insurance litigation and franchise disputes. His dispute resolution practice includes domestic and international arbitrations. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa Common Law Faculty.
Mr. Wallace's practice is includes criminal law and administrative law in connection with police discipline matters. He has served as counsel to parties with standing at the Arar Inquiry and the Cornwall Public Inquiry. He has also represented the Canadian Forces Provost Marshall before the Military Police Complaints Commission during the Public Interest Hearings concerning the transfer of Afghan detainees by the Canadian Forces during the conflict in Afghanistan.
The inquiry will examine the events surrounding the collapse of the mall and look at government policies and procedures related to the mall's safety and structural integrity. It will also consider the emergency response.
The Commissioner and staff will make an initial visit to Elliot Lake in mid-August to meet with officials and the public. Details will be announced at a later date.
Lucie Aylwin, 37, and Doloris Perizzolo, 74, were killed and 20 other people were injured after part of the mall's roof crashed into the shopping centre on June 23.
The Hon. Paul Bélanger, was appointed Commissioner on July 20, 2012. He has served as Senior Judge for Eastern Ontario, Regional Senior Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice for the East Region of the Province and at various times during his judicial career was the Eastern Ontario representative of the Provincial Court Judges' Association. In 2002, he was appointed to be the chair of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee of the Court, a position he held until his retirement to part-time service on September 30, 2008.
SOURCE: Elliot Lake Inquiry
For further information or to arrange an interview with Bruce Carr-Harris: Peter Rehak, Media Relations contact for the Inquiry, (416) 992-0679, e-mail: [email protected]
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