Inquest called into 2014 Lac des Iles fatality

The province has announced an inquest into the 2014 death of a Lac des Iles Mine worker.

On July 10, 2014, Pascal Goulet, 38, was outside of the loader he was operating when he was struck by a piece of broken ore. The mine's owner, North American Palladium, reported the fatality occurred around 2 p.m.

Following the incident, the company said it was investigating alongside the union, the OPP, and the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

Under the Coroners Act, an inquest into the death is mandatory.

The province said in an Aug. 30 news release the inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Goulet's death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

The inquest is expected to last three days and hear from approximately 10 witnesses.

The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, at the Ontario Government Building, 1st Floor, 189 Red River Rd., Thunder Bay. Dr. Michael B. Wilson will preside as inquest coroner and Robert Kozak will be counsel to the coroner.

Lac des Iles Mine is located about 90 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. One of only two primary palladium producers in the world, the mine has been in operation since 1993.