Lengthy Prison Sentence For Supervisor

On January 11, 2016 the project manager for Metron Construction was sentenced to 3 ½ years' imprisonment for his part in the tragic 2009 accident. On Christmas Eve 2009, at the conclusion of the work day, six workers boarded swing stage scaffolding to descend to the ground level of the construction project. The swing stage was designed to hold the weight of two workers and as such, had only two harnesses. Four workers plunged to their death when the swing stage scaffolding collapsed.

Following a trial, the project manager, Mr. Vadim Kazenelson, was convicted of four counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. In finding Mr. Kazenelson guilty, the Court concluded that he violated sections 217.1 and 219 of the Criminal Code. Section 217.1 was added to the Criminal Code in 2004 by Bill C-45, also known as the "Westray Law". Section 217.1 provides that everyone who has the authority to direct how another person