Want to take part in the RHVP inquiry? Now's your chance
Investigation will look into how friction testing report was buried for 6 years
Applications to take part in public hearings as part of the multimillion-dollar Red Hill Valley Parkway Inquiry are officially open.
For the next month Justice Herman Wilton-Seigel will accept applications from any person or group who can help fulfil the inquiry's mandate or have "substantial and direct interest" in the investigation into how a damning friction testing report stayed buried for six years, according to a media release.
Wilton-Seigel is acting as commissioner for the inquiry. He's charged with investigating how and why the public only learned in February about a 2013 report from Tradewind Scientific that showed parts of the highway were below UK safety standards for friction and in some cases, well below.
The study, which used UK standards because none exist for North America, stayed in a locked folder on the city's network for years.
Shortly after news of the report broke the city apologized, immediately lowered the speed limit and expedited resurfacing this past spring.
The City of Hamilton also called for the inquiry to investigate how the report remained buried.
Those who apply will be able to participate in "some or all parts of the inquiry on the terms set by the Commissioner," the media release reads.
It adds Wilton-Seigel can't direct the city to provide funding for legal counsel to anyone, but applicants can request he consider recommending financial support if he believes their participation would be helpful and couldn't happen otherwise.
Applications to participate or ask for funding must be sent, along with supporting materials, to [email protected] by noon on Nov. 29.
The media release says if the commissioner believes oral submissions are necessary a hearing will be held in January 2020.