Suncor Energy Services Inc. and Christina River 麻豆传媒高清ion Ltd. have pleaded guilty in the 2021 death of Patrick Poitras.<\/p>\n
The two companies were ordered to pay a total of $745,000 in Fort McMurray Provincial Court on April 14. Each company pleaded guilty to one charge under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in a joint submission which was accepted by the court. More than 20 other charges were withdrawn.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 13, 2021, Poitras died when a bulldozer he was operating broke through a frozen tailings pond at Suncor\u2019s base plant near Fort McMurray, Alta.<\/p>\n
His body was recovered several days later.<\/p>\n
Poitras\u2019 mother, Cathina Cormier, said the Alberta courts failed to dole out justice for her son\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a joke,\u201d Cormier told the Journal of Commerce and referred to the $420,000 fine to multibillion- dollar corporation Suncor as a \u201cslap on the wrist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suncor pleaded guilty to failing as the prime contractor to co-ordinate the performance of work on the site to ensure no person is exposed to a hazard rising out of the activities at the worksite.<\/p>\n
Suncor was ordered to pay $420,000 in total, with $370,000 of that fine going towards the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management at the University of Alberta to fund research preventing injuries in the oilsands.<\/p>\n
Christina River pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of Poitras and admitted due diligence was not done to ensure the ice he was working on was thick enough to support he and his equipment\u2019s weight.<\/p>\n
Christina River was ordered to pay $325,000 in total. Approximately $200,000 will go towards Keyano College in Fort McMurray to create the Patrick Poitras memorial scholarship and Patrick Poitras Memorial Safety Award. $75,000 will subsidize safety courses.<\/p>\n
Both companies will also pay a $50,000 fine as part of the provincial victims of crime surcharge.<\/p>\n
Suncor and Christina River did not respond to requests for comment before publication.<\/p>\n
Cormier was at the Fort McMurray courthouse on April 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day the Royal Canadian Mounted Police knocked on my door to tell me that my son was dead was the worst day of my life,\u201d Cormier said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day of the trial was the second worst day of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the fines to the two companies were disappointing and the court system let her family down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no price you can put on my boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey admitted it was their fault. It was very hard to hear in court that they took responsibility,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cormier said she has had no contact with Christina River or Suncor since last week\u2019s hearing. She did note some members of Christina River, whom Poitras was employed with, seemed genuinely distraught over his death.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey couldn’t believe this happened, you know what I mean? They really loved Patrick,\u201d Cormier said, adding the money the two organizations have to pay needs to result in change.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I want is for no mom to have to go through what I went through again. It\u2019s been two years now and I am still going through hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cormier remembers her son as an eternal optimist who was always a source of comfort.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatrick was my go-to guy. Every time that I\u2019m upset, he knows it.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody loves him. He is a big-hearted person who loves to help everybody,\u201d she said before breaking into tears.<\/p>\n
Poitras\u2019 death has also left a void in his hometown of Saint-Andre, N.B.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hit our community really hard,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cormier said the community has been very supportive of Poitras family in their time of grief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my boy is up there doing his job, protecting people. There\u2019s always a reason things happen. There\u2019s always a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n