TORONTO - Ontario won't force kids to wear helmets while skiing even though such a law may have saved the life of a 13-year-old boy who died in a ski accident last week, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
South Korean exchange student James Moon was skiing with other students last Wednesday when he lost control and hit a tree at the Snow Valley ski resort in central Ontario. He wasn't wearing a helmet.
His death has renewed calls for legislation that would require children to wear helmets while skiing.
Ontario law already forces children to wear helmets while biking, but McGuinty said he's not prepared to do the same when they're on the slopes.
"I think it's something for school boards to consider if there are classes that are going to be taken out, especially kids who have not skied before," he said.
Ultimately, it's up to parents to make sure their children are safe from the dangers associated with the sport, he said.
"I just think as parents, we should give some serious thought now -- if we're going to put the kids on skis -- to making sure they are properly equipped and safe."
Growing up in Ottawa, McGuinty said he often skied with his large family but no one gave any thought to wearing a helmet.
All that changed when he heard about Moon's death, he said.
Last weekend, he bought a helmet and wore it the next day while skiing with his daughter, McGuinty said.
"It occurs to me, as somebody who has skied for about 30 years, that I think it's time for me to wear a helmet," he added.
Police said Moon was skiing on a beginner slope at the resort near Barrie, north of Toronto, when he left the trail and crashed into a tree.
He was rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries, but died a short time later. It was only his second time on the slopes.
