Premier Dalton McGuinty has bowed to pressure and ordered a full public inquiry into the Elliot Lake mall collapse last weekend that killed two women.

As questions swirled about everything from Ministry of Labour inspections to McGuinty’s own admission of “miscommunication” surrounding rescue efforts, he faced a hue and cry for answers.

Finally, late Friday the premier responded.

“I spoke to the families of Doloris Perizzolo and Lucie Aylwin in Elliot Lake on Wednesday and again today by telephone,” McGuinty said in a terse statement.

“This is a difficult time for these families as they grieve their loved ones. I let them know that I will be launching an independent public inquiry into the collapse of the Algo Centre Mall.”

McGuinty’s news release — which, curiously, came out late in the day at the start of a summer long weekend when governments traditionally try to downplay bad news — had no details on who would lead the probe or when it would begin.

His surprise move came the same day as NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ontario owes it to the people of Elliot Lake “to ensure no stone is left unturned.”

“We need an honest, thorough and independent look at everything that led to this disaster and everything that happened after,” Horwath said earlier Friday.

The Ministry of Labour also released several inspection reports into the Algo Centre Mall that revealed complaints about the roof leaking.

As well, the chief coroner’s office announced that preliminary autopsy results had been shared with the families of Aylwin, 37, and Perizzolo, in her 70s, who died after the roof caved in last Saturday.

Funeral services can now be held for the two women, whose bodies were recovered Wednesday.

Horwath said “it’s clear now that there were problems at the Algo Mall for some time,” so a sweeping look at every aspect of the accident is needed.

“An independent public inquiry is the best way and likely the only way to get all the answers,” she said.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak agreed urgent action is required.

“First and foremost, we need answers to the tough questions,” Hudak told reporters.

“Why did the mall roof collapse in the first place? I mean, we live in Ontario, not a third-world country. Secondly, who was actually in charge on the ground coordinating activities and why did rescue work stop when they still heard people breathing beneath the concrete? Third, why did it take so long to get the equipment there?” he said.

On Thursday as the Ontario Provincial Police’s criminal investigation branch launched a “death investigation” into the collapse at the request of the chief coroner.

McGuinty conceded the same day there are lessons to be learned.

“There was some unfortunate miscommunication that somehow conveyed that the search and rescue team were putting down tools. That was never in fact the case. They wanted to do what I began to urge them to do,” the premier said.

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Meanwhile, CBC reported Friday that problems with the building date back several years, and that a mall employee had been badly injured in 2007 by a falling piece of drain pipe that had been connected to the roof.

Some of the mall’s main stores were forced to use tarps to protect against leaks.

During that period, stores such as Zellers frequently complained to the owner of the mall that they were going to cancel their leases unless problems with the leaky roof were fixed.

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