April 15 is the deadline for Whistler Mountain to make a decision on the Quicksilver chair, but there may not be a public announcement at that time. Marketing Director David Perry said Monday is the internal deadline for the company if it needs to order a new lift to replace the Quicksilver. However, Whistler Mountain is hoping to hear some results from coroner Peter Gordon before making an announcement. Gordon said Wednesday his report won’t be completed by next week but he doesn’t think that will affect Whistler Mountain’s decision. "They are a part of the investigating team so they are privy to the information and testing we’ve done," Gordon said. "I’m confident that with the information they have in hand they can make whatever decision they need to make." Whistler Mountain has talked to lift manufacturers Poma, Dopplemayr and Garavanta C-Tec about replacing the Quicksilver. If the decision is made to go with a new lift it must be ordered by April 15. Gordon added the investigating team is re-interviewing a few witnesses and will complete a metallurgical study by the end of the month. The investigating team will have a wrap up meeting about the third week of May and then Gordon will write his final report. Once his report is finished he will sit down with the regional coroner and the chief coroner and the three will decide whether the matter is concluded or needs to go to a full inquest. A decision to go to a full inquest may be made if it’s judged to be in the public interest, if the families of the victims have concerns or if the inquiry fails to fully answer what happened. "I’m hopeful we’ll do a thorough enough job and be able to get the proper number of answers and we won’t have to go to an inquest," Gordon said. Two people died and another was left paralyzed as a result of four chairs falling from the Quicksilver line Dec. 23. The lift has not been in public operation since.
