Province says investigation into Thompson smelter worker's 2008 death should be left to WCB

The Manitoba government has dismissed a renewed push for an inquiry into the 2008 death of a worker at a Thompson smelter, sayingthe matter should be left up to the province's chief medical officer and the Workers Compensation Board.

Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen said Thursdaythe provinceis refusing to score political points on the death of David Fifi.

"We will not interfere politically," Pedersen said.

Fifi, a 52-year-old boilermaker, died Nov. 6, 2008, while working toupgrade exhaust stacks at a Vale smelter in the northern Manitoba city. An autopsy report at the time concluded his death was a result of a heart attack.

Armed with a new report that suggests toxic gases likely resulted in Fifi's death, the Manitoba Liberals again calledfor an inquiry on Thursday.

His widow, LilaFifi, has refused to believehe died by natural causes.

Poisonousgas blamed

Her persistence spurred a review earlier this year byDr. Peter Markesteyn, a former chief medical examiner for Manitoba, who concluded DavidFifi likely died as a result of exposure to toxic gases at the work site.

Markesteyn noted that Fifi suffered a heart attack before his death, which was a "significant factor, but notcausallyrelated to the death."

The Workers Compensation Board has decided to investigate in light ofMarkesteyn'sfindings.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said workers endured a litany of disturbing working conditions that should have been flagged long ago.

"In the documents that were released it's clear that David and his co-workers were gassed repeatedly, safety equipment didn't work and their pleas for help were ignored," he said.

Lamont said the serious allegations deserve thescrutinyof a public inquiry and notthe Workers Compensation Board alone.

Lila Fifisaid she isdisappointed the government isrefusingto act.

"There's something very suspicious and something very wrong, and the governmentneeds to open their ears and look and hear what we're saying."

Thompson smelter worker's death likely caused by toxic gases

6 years ago

Duration 2:12

A decade after the death of a man who worked at the Vale smelter in Thompson, Man., new information suggests his death was caused by poisonous gases in the workplace rather than a heart attack.

With files fromSean Kavanagh and Vera-Lynn Kubinec