N.B. government gives AIM deadline to defend itself against damning Saint John fire report

American Iron and Metal has until Dec. 22 to offer an official response to findings of a task force review into September’s massive scrapyard fire.

AIM’s response will factor into decisions about the company’s salvage licence in Port Saint John, according to Public Safety Minister Kris Austin.

Austin said no decision would be made until AIM’s response was reviewed.

"As a decision maker, it's very important that I follow the process as it is laid out in legislation," said Austin to reporters on Friday. "So we are going to give AIM the opportunity to do that by Dec. 22 and then we'll go from there."

American Iron and Metal didn’t return a request for comment on Friday about the Dec. 22 deadline.

A written statement from AIM earlier this week said the company was co-operating fully with regulators.

The task force review found AIM’s Port Saint John location was “entirely inappropriate” with a “significant risk” of more explosions and fires within the current site. 

With files from CTV's Laura Brown

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