Alberta’s NDP is calling for an immediate public inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak at the Olymel pork processing plant in Red Deer.
It also wants Thursday’s planned reopening of the plant put on hold.
Read more:
Olymel reopening Alberta pork plant after COVID-19 outbreak prompted closure
The plant was shut down in mid-February, after an outbreak that has caused three deaths and infected over 500 employees.
The company has received a green light to start a gradual reopening.
‘Kind and positive’ grandfather, husband identified as victim of Olymel COVID-19 outbreak in Alberta
But NDP leader Rachel Notley says both Olymel and the Alberta government failed in their response to the health crisis, and there should be a full scale inquiry into how it was handled.
Read more:
New death connected to Olymel COVID-19 outbreak as Alberta Health removes previous fatality
She says the Olymel outbreak is now the deadliest at an Alberta meat packing plant during the pandemic.
Notley is also seeking a commitment from the justice minister that he will not intervene with legislation to protect potentially negligent corporations from lawsuits launched by victims’ families.