The labour ministry says it has issued a compliance order to DEG Demolition Services involving the demolition of 645-647 Queen St. E. in Sault Ste. Marie.
“On November 28, 2024, the ministry inspector returned to the workplace to investigate further, which resulted in an order issued to the employer, DEG Demolition Services,” said Michel Figueredo, Press Secretary to David Piccini, Ontario's Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“As the investigation is ongoing, no further information is available at this time.”
The man who answered the phone at DEG Demolition Services, based in North Bay, identified himself as the owner but would not provide his name. He called the ministry's order “irrelevant information.”
“From my point of view everything is fine. A lot of people see things and they start assuming. Right now, our demolition is done. The building has been demolished. It was done in a safe manner,” the man said.
He said there was no order from the ministry, “just a friendly visit.”
The ministry said there were health and safety concerns reported at the job site, which is why they were called in.
No other information was provided by the ministry.
According to the ministry's website, a compliance order is issued to have the employer take certain steps or stop taking certain steps to comply with the law.
Last week SooToday learned a Sault Ste. Marie company was brought in to remove the back two walls of the building after safety concerns were reported to the ministry.