The NDP's Atlantic caucus, which I chair, sent a letter this week (see below) to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield re the closure of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in St. John's. June 20, 2011 The Honourable Keith Ashfield, P.C., M.P. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans 200 Kent St. Ottawa,ON K1A OE6 RE: Closure of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in St. John's, NL Dear Minister, We, the members of the NDP Atlantic caucus, write to express our grave misgivings regarding the announcement of the government's intention to close the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in St. John's, NL and move operations to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax, NS. We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision. While New Democrats recognize the need for this government to introduce checks on its discretionary spending, we believe that closing the centre in St. John's will result in inferior service and endan...

On Sunday (June 19th) an emergency resolution on the closure of the Maritime Rescue Centre was brought to the floor of the New Democratic Party convention in Vancouver, B.C. The motion, which I submitted, read: “Be it resolved that the New Democratic Party urges the federal government to reverse its decision to close the Coast Guard’s Maritime Rescue Centres in St. John’s and Quebec City. Given severe time restrictions, I was the only speaker on the motion. The following is the text of my address to the 1,500 delegates: “I stand in support of the resolution and condemn the closure of the Marine Rescue Centres in St. John’s and Quebec City and call on the Conservative government to reserve the decision. The ocean can be a dangerous place. This decision by the Conservative government is reckless. If allowed to stand it will endanger lives. We already have substandard search and rescue service in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Gander-based helicopters operated by National De...

I rose today (June 14 th ) during Question Period in the House of Commons and asked the following two questions: 1 st question Senseless, reckless, hasty, and dangerous. Mr. Speaker, These are just some of the words used to describe the decision to close the rescue communications centre in my riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. Experts, unions, the provincial Fisheries minister, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have all spoken out against this indefensible move by the Conservative government. Mr. Speaker, Will the Minister listen to the people of my province and reverse this reckless decision? 2 nd question Mr. Speaker, Where are this government’s priorities? They find billions for fighter jets and corporate tax giveaways, but then make cuts that jeopardize the safety of Canadians who work off our shores. We have one of the worst search and rescue response times in the world. I repeat, in the world. We should improve our services, not cut them. Will the minist...

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...

On Wednesday, June 8th, I asked the following during Question Period in the House of Commons: Mr. Speaker, When the honourable member from Pembroke said last February that Newfoundlanders should look after themselves when it comes to search and rescue, Canadians were shocked. Nobody realized this would actually become Conservative government policy. Closing the Maritime rescue subcentre in St. John’s will endanger people’s lives. Will the minister commit to reversing this dangerous decision, and show he’s serious about the safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?

On Tuesday, June 8 th , I gave my maiden speech (see below) in the House of Commons. The speech, in response to the budget, was 10 minutes long, followed by 5 minutes of questions and answers. Madam Speaker, Not so many weeks ago — in the middle of the federal election campaign — I met a Newfoundland fisherman by the name of Paul Critch. Paul owns a 60-footer that was tied up at Prosser’s Rock boat basin on the southside of St. John’s harbour, the largest fishing port in my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Madam Speaker, Paul’s about my age, maybe a couple of years younger, in his early 40s. He's strong and capable. You don’t see many such men on the wharves these days, I’m sad to report. Paul Critch is also a 5 th generation fisherman. We stood there on the wharf, on the edge of the North Atlantic — about as far away from Ottawa as you can get in this country, a place that many federal bureaucrats (even within DFO) probably can’t even i...

On Monday, June 6 th , I gave my first statement in the House of Commons. Statements precede Question Period and are exactly one minute in length. Mr. Speaker: For my first statement in the House of Commons I must acknowledge the constituents of the great riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl — and thank them for their support. For the first time since Confederation in 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador is represented by two New Democrat MPs in this esteemed chamber. We may not have the raw MP numbers of other provinces, but — the way I see it — the member for St. John’s East and I make up for it by being from Newfoundland and Labrador. A quick note for the Conservative members opposite … If you look up to the stained-glass window the furthest to your right you’ll see the pitcher plant — official flower of Newfoundland and Labrador. How privileged you are to sit across from such raw and rugged beauty. The stained-glass window also faces toward Newfoundland and Labrador. ...