'Blatant disregard for safety'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08 JUNE, 2011
NDP CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STOP CLOSURE OF RESCUE FACILITY
New Democrat Atlantic Caucus united in opposition to cuts to Search and Rescue
OTTAWA — The New Democrat Atlantic caucus is calling on the federal government to immediately reverse its decision to close the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in St. John’s, NL. The NDP’s 6 East Coast MPs met this morning and top of the agenda was the proposed closure. The news came last night that the facility was one of the first things to suffer due to the Conservative’s proposed $56 million in cuts to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
“The closure represents a blatant disregard for the safety of the men and women of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Ryan Cleary, Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl and the Chair of the Atlantic Caucus. “Our workers often risk their lives to do their jobs in the fisheries and the offshore oil Industry. It is our duty as a country to ensure that they are protected by the best possible search and rescue standards.”
A release from a communications officer at DFO Tuesday confirmed that rescue facilities would be closed in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Quebec. The services provided by these centres will now be administered out of Halifax, NS.
“This is not about jobs or saving a few dollars here and there,” said Robert Chisholm the newly elected Member of Parliament for Dartmouth–Cole Harbour. “This is about the safety of workers who do their job on our coasts, that’s an issue that all Atlantic Canadians understand.”
- 30 -
Comments
I would be more concerned with the pending continental shelf giveaway with the United Nations Law of The Sea 2013 delineation deadline fast approaching.
Combined with ongoing EU trade talks I can see far worse repercussions under that file.
A government who does not understand the fishery, nor value it, cannot be expected to act differently. As someone who has grown up in the fishing industry and spent my academic career working toward a career in the fishery I am appalled, disgusted yet not surprised by Harper's latest move.
Closures in Newfoundland Quebec - provinces once described by a renowned sociologist as the "Mexicans of Canada."
Surprised? No. Not in the least.
Congratulations, Canada, this is what you elected. We elected those who can fight for us. Go, Ryan. Give our province the voice Harper is intending to only silence further.