A private member’s bill to make carbon monoxide detectors mandatory will get second reading Thursday – a move that is long overdue, says the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
“Despite the serious threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, many Canadians do not have CO detectors in their home,” says Ralph Palumbo, vice-president Ontario, IBC. “In 2006, we applauded the move to make smoke detectors mandatory on every storey as well as outside all sleeping areas of homes. Since then, we have been encouraging consumers to also purchase carbon monoxide detectors.”
The IBC announced its support of Bill 77 to make CO detectors mandatory in homes across Ontario. The bill will be debated at second reading October 31.
“We have lost too many Ontarians to carbon monoxide poisoning because they didn't have a functioning carbon monoxide detector in their home,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and the author of Bill 77. “These tragedies are even worse because many of them could have been prevented.”
As a member of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, Palumbo feels the implementation of mandatory CO detectors in homes will be an important preventive step against future tragedies.
“We believe that Mr. Hardeman's bill will not only raise awareness of the risks associated with carbon monoxide, but more importantly, help prevent future tragedies from occurring,” said Palumbo. “We encourage MPPs from all parties to support quick passage of this much needed legislation.”
