MAJOR OPTIMISTIC AIR INDIA INQUIRY TO CONTINUE

OTTAWA — Air India Inquiry Commisioner John Major expressed cautious optimism today that his probe into Canada's deadliest experience with terrorism won't sink into oblivion due to government secrecy. Major, who threatened to shut down the inquiry last month because not enough internal documents were being made public, was responding to the government's commitment today to release more uncensored documents to the commission and victims' families by the end of this week.
The government of India, Vancouver police, and a senior RCMP official involved in the ongoing Air India probe were consulted as Ottawa sought ways to release more information without compromising national security, government lawyer Barney Brucker told the inquiry today. But he warned that excessive openness might be "potentially disastrous" by compromising important government sources in the fight against terrorism. "It would be like switching off a light and attempting to defend ourselves in the dark," Brucker said. Major said he's grateful the government is taking extra steps, though he said he's uncertain whether bureaucrats are as willing to open up the process. "I will have some skepticism about the troops behind you being able to follow your command," he said.
Major resisted a plea from a lawyer for the families of some of the 331 who died in 1985 as a result of the terror bombings orchestrated by Sikh extremists living in B.C. Jacques Shore said he'd like an extra two weeks to study documents once they are released by Friday. But Major said he will stick to next week's scheduled one-week adjournment unless the families, after seeing what the government provides to them later this week, provide a formal written request for more time. Major said he still fears that his probe could be jeopardized by continued delays. "We've seen commissions sink below the water and accomplish nothing," he said. (Van Sun)