Nova Scotia fire marshal’s office faces intense scrutiny over damning report

Nova Scotia’s fire marshal faced some tough questioning today regarding a recent report that found his office was putting the public at risk by failing to properly manage fire safety inspections.

Douglas MacKenzie appeared before the legislature’s public accounts committee to explain why the fire marshal’s office had failed to act on repeated warnings from the auditor general about its lack of appropriate oversight going back to 2001.

MacKenzie says the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing shortages were largely to blame for his office’s failure to keep up with inspections.

But when he was asked how many inspections remained in the backlog, he didn’t have an answer, saying the number would be provided later in the day.

Paul LaFleche, deputy minister of the Municipal Affairs Department, told the committee the department has made progress in implementing recommendations from the province’s auditor general.

And he says Nova Scotians can feel confident and safe with the work being done by the fire marshal’s office.