Moe mulled military aid for Humboldt autopsies

Saskatchewan’s premier wondered whether the military could help with autopsies following the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

Emails obtained by The Canadian Press show provincial coroners were scrambling to quickly conduct autopsies on the 16 people who died after the junior hockey team’s bus and a semi-truck collided April 6.

Two days later, Justice Minister Don Morgan wrote in an email that Saskatoon’s coroner’s office was only able to do four autopsies a day.

“That means four days before the last of the bodies will be released to families so that they can prepare for funerals,” Morgan said in an email obtained through a freedom of information request. “What can we do to bring in resources to get them done much earlier?”

Premier Scott Moe responded by offering to contact people outside the province for assistance.

“Would the military have this ability?” Moe asked.

Jennifer Graham, a spokeswoman with the Saskatchewan Justice Ministry, says military help was considered but no request was made.

“The chief medical examiner in Alberta offered to help soon after the tragedy and we accepted her offer,” said Graham, who added that six autopsies were done in Alberta.

The military wouldn’t have been able to help anyway.

Jennifer Eckersley, a National Defence spokeswoman, said the military doesn’t have any pathologists and when it requires autopsies, such as when soldiers are killed overseas, it works with provincial pathologists.

A spokesman for the premier, Jim Billington, said the province explored all options to co-ordinate its response to the crash.

“We are thankful for the efforts of first responders, medical professionals, coroners in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and all others involved for their tireless and dedicated work in the responding to this tragedy,” he said.