Twillingate, NL home to new search and rescue lifeboat station

News release

TWILLINGATE (NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR) – Today, Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays — Central — Notre Dame announced on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, that a new Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboat Station will be built in Twillingate, NL, to increase the Coast Guard’s search and rescue capacity on the northeast coast of Newfoundland.

The Coast Guard plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of mariners and the marine environment. The Government of Canada is investing $1.5 billion through the Oceans Protection Plan to improve marine safety and protect Canada’s marine environment and coastal communities. This includes additional resources for the Canadian Coast Guard, such as new search and rescue lifeboat stations.

There are currently 40 operational search and rescue stations located strategically across Canada to respond to maritime search and rescue incidents, including the recently announced new station in Old Perlican, NL and refurbished station in St. Anthony, NL. The area of Twillingate was selected to increase the Coast Guard’s maritime search and rescue capacity on the northeast coast of Newfoundland, particularly addressing nearshore capacity needs.

To identify the exact location, a detailed site analysis concluded that the land that houses the former RCMP building in Twillingate was most suitable for the lifeboat station. In addition to consulting with various communities, many factors were considered including harbour characteristics such as water depth, icing conditions, and wharf facilities that could support mission activities. Community infrastructure was also considered.

Mr. Simms also took part in a community event and media technical briefing to highlight the next steps in the removal of bulk oil from the Manolis L. shipwreck near Change Islands in Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Last month, the Government of Canada announced a new contract awarded at a value of $15,106,400.00 for operations that will remove all recoverable oil in the wreck, and significantly mitigate the threat of future oil leaks.

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MP Scott Simms on behalf of Minister Dominic LeBlanc announces new Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboat Station in Twillingate, NL to increase search and rescue capacity on the northeast coast.

Quotes

“Under the Oceans Protection Plan we are increasing our capacity to respond to marine search and rescue incidents through enhancing the Canadian Coast Guard. This new Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboat Station, and its professional and highly-trained Coast Guard crews will provide essential infrastructure and support to the people who live and work on the northeast coast of Newfoundland.”

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Today is a positive day for the town of Twillingate, NL. The Canadian Coast Guard provides critical search and rescue services for those who work on our waters and live on our coasts. I am honoured that this community is now the new home for the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboat Station and the important services it provides.”

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays — Central — Notre Dame

Quick facts

Under the Oceans Protection Plan, seven new lifeboat stations will be opened in strategic locations, to improve response capacity to all-hazard marine incidents and increase coverage in order to keep mariners and the environment safe.
In addition to the station to be built at Twillingate, the remaining six will be located in the areas of Victoria, Hartley Bay, Port Renfrew and Nootka in British Columbia; and, two others will be located in Newfoundland and Labrador: a new one in Old Perlican and the station in St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador will be refurbished.
This initiative will see an investment under the Oceans Protection Plan of $108.1 million over the next five years with ongoing funding of $12.2 million, creating 56 new positions to provide search and rescue services from these new stations.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Vincent Hughes
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
613 992 3474
Vincent.Hughes@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.

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Date modified:: 2022-06-22