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When it comes to vitally important matters of safety, it seems you rarely get disagreement - at least in words.

We're told that safety should always be the top priority; it must never be compromised. We hear that mantra ceaselessly from the lips of politicians, community activists and the public at large.

We hear it and we know it rings true. ��

But those words don't amount to much for the hundreds of area residents forced to flee their homes, in fear for their lives, after the explosion Aug. 10 at Sunrise Propane.

Some legitimate questions remain and demand both clear answers and committed reviews of each and every circumstance that led to this deadly blast.

Some of the issues that require city and provincial review include oversight of such facilities across the province. Perhaps it's time to end self-regulation within the industry and turn it over to proper government agencies without an interest in the propane industry.

The province must also aggressively take the lead in providing up-to-date information on all such facilities and brandish a big legislative stick if necessary to force reluctant propane facilities to provide data that will permit a fulsome and rigorous review of similar operations across the city and province. Surely up-to-date information on where and how dangerous chemicals (and how much of them exist) are stored should be readily available from those entrusted with their care.

Both the city and province must commit to mutual co-operation in their respective areas of jurisdiction to ensure that one level of government knows what the other is doing and what it clearly has responsibility for. It's simply not good enough, for example, to suggest a resident's damaged home is related to the mega-city amalgamation.

City officials must also do a better job of managing the scene at the local level, especially when it comes to communicating more effectively with affected residents (as we learned with last week's scheduling conflict of community meetings), and also working with other agencies to speed the safe return of more residents to their homes.

Finally, the province must provide the means for city officials to ensure that the transition for residents back into their homes is as easy as possible, and must also communicate regularly and more effectively with affected residents, both through their MPPs and community groups.

There are doubtless many lessons to be learned from this tragedy and many fall under the umbrella of backing up statements we know to be true with demonstrable action.

Safety is a top priority; we need to see action to back up those words.