**** EMO MEDIA RELEASE

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE/LABOUR/ADVANCED EDUCATION– Emergency Order Issued for Crane Removal



Under the authority of the Emergency Management Act, the province has declared a localized state of emergency to ensure the safe removal of the crane at a building on South Park Street in Halifax.

This action allows the province to step in to oversee the crane’s safe and timely removal.

“The safety of Nova Scotians is our primary concern and any further delay is not acceptable,” said Chuck Porter, Minister responsible for Emergency Management. “As a government, we are stepping in to move forward as quickly as possible.”

The localized emergency area is defined as the city block within the boundaries of Cathedral Lane, and bordered by Brenton Street, Brenton Place and Spring Garden Road. An evacuation order for some tenants was issued by Halifax Regional Municipality Fire and Emergency Services.

“We needed to act to find a solution to get this work underway as soon as possible,” said Labi Kousoulis, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. “Our first priority is removing the crane safely and for people and businesses to get back to their lives.”

A state of emergency remains in effect for 14 days unless government terminates or extends it.

Quick Facts:

— the crane collapsed during Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 7, 2019

— Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) issued stop work orders on Sept. 8, 2019 so that no persons are able to access either of the construction sites

— LAE (Technical Safety and Occupational Health and Safety) will continue to work with the operator to ensure the fallen crane and any removal cranes are operated safely and in compliance with the regulations and safety standards

— under the Technical Safety Act and the Crane Operators Regulations, crane owners and operators are required to ensure a crane is setup, operated and maintained as required by the safety standards and regulations

— the developer responsible for the crane is WM Fares Group

— the owner and operator of the crane is Lead Structural Formworks Ltd.