Executive Council
June 23, 2011

The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Premier Comments on Federal Government Closure of Maritime Rescue Sub-centre

My priority as Premier has been and always will be advancing the interests of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and nothing is more important than safety in this province. The Prime Minister and I have a serious disagreement with regard to the closure of the Maritime Rescue Sub-centre. Prime Minister Harper believes safety will not be compromised, and I strongly disagree. While the Prime Minister is saying the decision is final, we will continue to aggressively pursue this issue at every opportunity until the decision is changed.

I have tasked the ministers of Intergovernmental Affairs and Fisheries to pursue this matter with our federal counterparts—as I will—at every opportunity to underscore that the decision to close the Maritime Rescue Sub-centre is simply unacceptable to our government and to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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2011 06 23                                                                            12:40 p.m.