June 15, 2011
OTTAWA—The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, issued the following statement on June 15, 2011:
I understand that there has been growing concern and speculation about the consolidation of the St. John’s Marine Rescue Coordination sub-centre and I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that the Coast Guard’s response on the water will not change; the safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will absolutely not be compromised by this move.
The safety of Canadians is our government’s top priority. We will ensure that the Canadian Coast Guard is equipped with the necessary tools and training to provide quality services to Canadians across the country.
Since 2006, our government has made unprecedented investments in the protection of Canadians at sea. There has been a 33% increase in Canadian Coast Guard positions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We located two of Canada’s heaviest and most capable icebreakers to the province in 2007 and we have provided the Canadian Coast Guard with 98 new small craft vessels and barges while increasing funding to repair another 40 of its largest vessels. As one of our first acts of government, the Prime Minister announced the re-opening of the Newfoundland and Labrador weather station. All of these decisions were made to make sure that the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who make their living off of the sea can always count on us and the Canadian Coast Guard to fight for their safety on the water.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax currently provides many of the services mariners rely on in Newfoundland and Labrador. It retains the same knowledge of the area, bilingual services, and prompt response time that Canadians have come to expect. With this move, we are aligning Coast Guard and Canadian Forces air and sea search and rescue coordination to ensure effective and more efficient service in the same way it is effectively done elsewhere in the country. This is what Canadians demand of us – excellent service, delivered through responsible use of taxpayers’ dollars.
Our government has been clear about refining and aligning our resources accordingly but we will absolutely not put the lives of Canadians at risk. Our top priority is and will continue to be the safety and security of Canadians.
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Background information:
Search and Rescue and the Canadian Coast Guard
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Erin Filliter
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
