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Okotoks fire system company admitted to violations in 2015

Premium CEO claims many of the current charges are demonstrably false
Premium Fire Protection 062
The Premium Fire Protection in Okotoks is facing more than 65 fire code infractions. (Wheel File Photo)

An Okotoks fire safety system inspection company now facing fire code violations over the alleged use of non-certified workers in Calgary admitted to doing uncertified work four years ago following a provincial investigation.

Alberta Municipal Affairs investigated complaints against the Premium Fire Protection about inspections and maintenance of fire extinguishers done between 2012 and 2013.

The Premium Fire Protection CEO admitted to doing uncertified work in a 2015 letter to Municipal Affairs and paid a $6,000 donation in 2015 to the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society.

In a ‘letter of contrition’, Premium Fire Protection CEO Kurt Bertrand wrote to then provincial chief fire administrator, Kevan Jess, that the company “performed inspections and maintenance on a number of fire extinguishers located at commercial properties and towns throughout Alberta, including Cochrane, Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton.”

“I am sorry that the Violations (sic) occurred,” the letter reads. “I have learned from this mistake and will ensure that Violations (sic) will not take place again.”

In an email statement to media, Bertrand wrote that the charges now before the courts are separate from the case with Alberta Municipal Affairs.

“Premium Fire Protection believes the 2012 case is unrelated to this matter, and we are always striving to be fully compliant with regulations, even when they evolve such as this,” Bertrand wrote.

He also disputes a number of the charges the company faces now and said the court case has taken too long to proceed.

“Furthermore, Premium Fire Protection does not face 65 charges,” Bertrand continued. “This is a gross exaggeration. Many of the charges are demonstrably false. However, Premium Fire Protection still awaits completion of disclosure by the City of the case against it, notwithstanding that now over six months have passed since the charges were laid. ”

Lawyers met this week to discuss the management of the case and were told the remainder of the disclosure, or the Crown’s case, would be available by the end of January. Bertrand’s lawyer, Brent Cooper, expressed concern at that time over the length of time it has taken to receive disclosure.

As a result of the Jordan decision, Crown prosecutors in Canada have 18 months between laying charges and completing a trial in a case. If a delay beyond 18 months can be attributed to the Crown, the defence can apply to have the charges be dropped.

City of Calgary safety codes officer Frank Schroder was part of an investigation last year into similar allegations of Premium Fire Protection employees doing work they were not certified to do that led to fire code violation charges against Premium Fire Protection, Kurt Bertrand, 10 employees and a number of Calgary businesses that were using their services.

Schroder said they discovered the interaction between Alberta Municipal Affairs and Kurt Bertrand during the course of their seven-month investigation, but said it did not affect their work.

“We maintained course with what we were doing,” Schroder said. “From the onset we took it very seriously. We are talking about the life safety systems that protect the public.”

However, Schroder questions whether the Province could get involved again to look at Premium Fire Protection’s activity in the Province.  He said they are also speaking with other government officials from B.C. and Saskatchewan, where Premium Fire Protection also operates.

Premium Fire Protection holds a business licence in Calgary and Okotoks.

Town of Okotoks communication manager, Joan Botkin, said businesses can have their business licence revoked only when they violate Provincial health and safety regulations or municipal bylaws or if they fail to pay the business licence fee.

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