NDP demands answers from Ford after false alarm left Ontarians in fear

QUEEN’S PARK — The Official Opposition NDP is calling on Doug Ford and his cabinet to explain what caused a two-hour delay in correcting a false alarm of an incident at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

“Ontarians were needlessly left anxious and worried fearing a nuclear incident without knowing what to do next after the government sent out this false emergency alert,” said Peter Tabuns MPP, the NDP’s energy critic. “We have heard an explanation for how this incident happened, and only a full, independent, transparent investigation can validate that. What we have not heard is any explanation whatsoever for the unconscionable two-hour delay in correcting the false alarm.”

Tabuns is calling for a breakdown of what happened during that a nearly two-hour delay, in addition to the full, transparent investigation into how and why the emergency alert system was triggered, which the NDP called for on Sunday.

“The emergency alert system is essential but only works when people have confidence that the information is accurate and timely. Lives can be at risk if people don’t take these alerts seriously,” said Tabuns. “Ontarians deserve answers about what exactly happened and what is being done to make sure can never happen again.”

The emergency sent to cell phones by the province’s emergency alert system warned of an “incident” at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station at roughly 7:20 a.m. Sunday. A second notice that said “there is NO active nuclear situation” went out at roughly 9:15 a.m.