VICTORIA - British Columbians deserve a straight answer from the Campbell government about whether or not there will be a public inquiry into the sinking of the Queen of the North, the New Democrats said today.

"The public, passengers and victims' families deserve a straight answer from the Campbell government - not more flip flops," said New Democrat ferry critic Gary Coons . "Last week, the Minister of Transportation dismissed the idea of a public inquiry, but then only a couple of days later the Attorney General said that he might order one. Which is it?"Gary Coons

Following the release last Wednesday of the Transportation Safety Board’s report into the sinking of the Queen of the North, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon outright rejected an inquiry, despite calls for one from victims’ families and from NDP leader Carole James.

But in an interview published on Saturday, Attorney General Wally Oppal said that the government might order a public inquiry.

"It's been two years since the ship sank, and two years since we first called for a public inquiry," said Coons. "The public still doesn't fully know why the ship sank, and that's unacceptable."

Gary Coons

North Coast

Gary Coons was re-elected as the MLA for the North Coast on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature on May 17, 2005.