LAC-MEGANTIC--Pauline Marois is pushing the federal government to commit recovery funds to Lac-Megantic, where the Quebec Premier called the handling of the accident by the responsible railway company that has left at least 20 dead as “deplorable.”
Marois returned to the Easter Townships for the second time in five days, where she met with local officials to provide reassurance and discuss implementation of the $60 million worth of aid pledged by the provincial government to the town of 6,000 where 24 people are confirmed dead and another 26 remain missing, and are presumed dead.
"It is important for me to return. To tell grieving families we are with them. I speak on behalf of all Quebecers we are in solidarity and sympathy with you,” said Marois, who was calm and reassuring with residents during her appearance.
On Wednesday, Marois said each family affected by the disaster would receive $1,000 for food and other essentials. The province is setting up a centralized helpline for anyone who needs assistance, ranging from counseling to help restarting a business damaged in the explosion. Marois’cash-strapped government is dipping into an emergency fund and he she said $25 million would be made available immediately.
“The work is being done properly, competently,” said Marois, who was accompanied by Public Security Minister Stephane Bergeron. “Citizens are receiving good service, good response.”
On Thursday, Marois said more is needed and called on the federal government to also chip in, saying railroads are a federal responsibility.
Marois also continued her criticism of Edward Burkhardt, head of the Chicago-based Rail World and chairman of Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railways Inc. Burkhardt arrived in Lac-Megantic on Wednesday, nearly five days after the accident occurred early Saturday, which Marois said was "deplorable."
"I found it deplorable, absolutely deplorable in my opinion," she said of Burkhardt's decision to delay his arrival until Wednesday.
"The leader of this business should have been here right from the beginning."
Marois added that Burkhardt and his company should provide financial help to Lac-Megantic as it tries to recover and rebuild. Burkhardt, who put his tardy arrival to being able to manage the situation best from his home office, has said his company will do everything it can to help.
Residents of Lac-Megantic continue to brace for a rising death toll as investigators continue to locate victims of the deadly train derailment. Just one of the victims has been identified so far, but no names have been released publicly.
Despite Burkhardt’s pledge to help the grief-stricken community, his assurances did not placate angry residents, many of whom lost friends or loved ones in the disaster. Burkhardt was jeered during his public appearance.
Burkhardt laid blame at the hands of his engineer, who is suspended without pay, as investigators continue their work, with the focus being on the handbrake.
Burkhardt said the engineer likely did not apply all 11 handbrakes and that could be one of the keys to how the train rolled downhill from Nantes to Lac-Megantic, 12 kilometres away, where it derailed and the barrels of crude oil exploded 300 meters into the sky.
