The Concerned Citizens for Search and Rescue has submitted a short summary ahead of the deadline for Phase One of the Ground Search and Rescue Inquiry.

Spokesperson and search and rescue advocate, Merv Wiseman says the group is pleased with the inquiry’s discussion paper, calling it a detailed and comprehensive summary of SAR in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Wiseman is concerned however that the discussion paper will not address the strengths or shortcomings of individuals involved in ground search and rescue.

He says the tragic loss of 14-year-old Burton Winters in 2012 revealed serious shortcomings in collaboration and coordination among “pivotal players.”

He can’t understand how you can avoid the so-called elephant in the room and not discuss what went wrong in the Burton Winters situation. Without that, it will be difficult to identify the root cause and make the appropriate recommendations.

He says Winters’ loss was the driving force behind calling the inquiry and understating what went wrong is “fundamental to fixing the system” to ensure that kind of tragedy never happens again.