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CO Detector Mandatory

Tuesday, 14 October 2014 at 15:32

Ernie Hardeman and John Gignac hold up a CO detector

Starting Wednesday all residential homes required to have CO detector

TORONTO - Starting Wednesday, carbon monoxide detectors are mandatory in all residential homes. 

Local MPP Ernie Hardeman first introduced the bill after OPP officer Laurie Hawkins, her husband Richard and their two children died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their home in 2008.

The family did not have a C-O detector in the house.

Co-Chair, Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for CO Education, John Gignac says he has mixed emotions about the updated law. 

"I feel happy and reinvigorated that this law has finally been passed and I can move on to start working with all Ontario to prevent this from happening to other families but I feel sad that it has taken us this long and we have lost lives in the meantime and as well I lost my family to carbon monoxide so that always makes me feel sad."

More than 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning in Canada, including 11 on average in Ontario.

"It's very, very important because it's the only way you can tell the silent killer is present. Carbon Monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless so the only way you will ever know is if you have a CO alarm in your home and to me, it's cheap protection for your family," says Gignac.

Ernie Hardeman says there will be a phase-in compliance period.

"It's not so important when it has to be done. I think it's very important to get the message out to the public that it needs to be done right now. The perfect time to do it is before the tragedy happened. The second most perfect time to do it is today."

Carbon monoxide detectors will now be required near all sleeping areas in residential homes and in the service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into the wall.

The first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week will take place November 1-8, 2014.

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