Proposed amendments will increase safety and accountability for non-compliant salvage dealers.

Changes to the Salvage Dealers Licensing Act have been introduced in the legislature.

Public Safety Minister Kris Austin says September’s fire at A-I-M Recycling in Saint John brought the safety risks to light, not only on the site but in surrounding areas.

The proposed amendments would:

• Require any application for a salvage dealer licence to include a fire safety plan and site layout for approval by the fire marshal.

• Increase the penalty for salvage dealers who violate licensing requirements under the act.

• Establish new ministerial authority to temporarily suspend a salvage dealer licence, without a hearing, while an investigation into non-compliance under the act is being conducted.

• Establish new ministerial authority to apply special conditions to a salvage dealer licence.

Austin adds these amendments represent significant improvements in both accountability and fire safety.