Full inquiry of B.C. ferry sinking needed: critics

A criminal trial will not answer all the questions that remain about the sinking of the B.C. ferry Queen of the North four years ago, saysprovincial NDP transportation critic Gary Coons.

The ferry's navigating officer, Karl Lilgert, was charged on Monday with negligence in the deaths of two passengers who are presumed to have gone down with the ship.

Lilgert was the officer responsible for steering the Queen of the North when it sank after running aground in March 2006. Ninety-nine people on board made it off safely when the ferry sank within two hours, but the bodies of Gerald Foisy and Shirley Rosette were never found.

Coons said the charges are a good step forward, but he will continue to push for a judicial inquiry in order to provide a full public accounting of what happened that night on the ship's bridge and whyit failed to alter course.

"I believe a judicial inquiry should have been done right from the start. The premier should have called one and I'm sure we would have had testimony from people and come to some closure years ago," he said.

'I would expect a whole variety of issues which will never see the light of day." Lawyer Peter Ritchie

"We've had two internal reports from BC Ferries, we've had the Transportation Safety Board inquiry. But British Columbians, and the families that lost loved ones, and passengers and crew, still haven't had closure and I think a judicial review would do that and this court case, hopefully, will be the first step," said Coons.

Lawyer Peter Ritchie, who is representing Foisy's daughters, said a criminal trial would not likely include an assessment of the rescue procedures, crew training and discipline policies, which wouldlikely be covered by a judicial inquiry.

"You have to bear in mind this is a criminal trial; this is not an inquiry, and the frame of reference is very much different," Ritchie said.

"I would expect a whole variety of issues...will never see the light of day," he said.

Criminal trial must come first: minister

B.C.'s Transportation Minister Shirley Bond says she appreciates the intense public and political pressure for a public inquiry into the Queen of the North sinking, but says the criminal trial must come first.

"Obviously this will need to work its way through the court system.' B.C.'s Transportation Minister Shirley Bond

"There has been an intensive complicated investigation underway by the RCMP. That's now resulted in charges, and obviously this will need to work its way through the court system," she said.

BC Ferries president David Hahn declined to comment on the charges.

"I think we all have to be respectful that this is a matter before the courts and as such I think any comments have to be restricted. I think we have to let a fair and open process take place," Hahn said.

2officerson deck when ship struck

The various investigations into the sinking concluded that two crewmembers were on the bridge at the time of the accident: Karl Lilgert who was the officer on deck in charge of navigation of the ship, and quartermaster Karen Bricker, who was at the helm.

Both were suspended by BC Ferries following the incident, along with the captain and the second officer, who were not on the bridge at the time.

'I can't understand why both of them aren't charged.' Passenger Barney Dudoward

Barney Dudoward was a passenger the night theferry ran aground near Gil Island. He believesLilgert and Bricker share responsibility and both should have been charged.

"It should have been done a long time ago, I would say.They're only charging one person and I can't understand why both of them aren't charged,"Dudoward said.

According to the reports, Lilgert and Bricker had recently ended a relationship and were engaged in a personal conversation and failed to keep the ship on course just before it ran aground.

But the Crown prosecutor's office said Monday there was sufficient evidence only to lay charges against Lilgert.