ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. - The judge heading an inquiry into the collapse of a northern Ontario mall says he still hopes to begin hearings early in the new year.
Paul Belanger made his comments today in Elliot Lake, Ont., where the Algo Centre Mall collapsed in June, killing two women.
He was in the city to hear oral submissions from parties wishing to participate formally in the inquiry or to receive funding to participate.
Belanger says his investigators have interviewed 50 people and expect to interview many more.
The commission has also served document requests on more than 60 individuals, companies and organizations and 73,000 documents have been submitted so far.
Belanger says his team met with 40 people informally in August, and came away with a clear understanding of the "absolutely devastating impact" the collapse had.
