Province Continues to Press Federal Government for Immediate Search and Rescue Improvements

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, continued to press the Federal Government to act immediately upon concerns raised in the Federal Auditor General’s report during a face-to-face meeting in St. John’s today with the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence.

“I met today with Minister MacKay to discuss the issues of search and rescue which are of critical importance to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and to reiterate to him the position of the Provincial Government on these matters,” said Minister O’Brien. “We want the key recommendations of the Federal Auditor General be implemented right away, and a reliable system for the people of this province to be put in place that offers coverage 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year. We also want the Federal Government to provide us with detailed reports on search and rescue activity in our region and to address the critical deficiencies in both personnel and equipment.”

Minister O’Brien also offered several immediate options that would improve Federal Government access to assets and personnel for the air and marine search and rescue system, which is a sole federal responsibility. The Provincial Government awaits a response from the Federal Government.

The Minister also continued to press on the need to reverse the decision to close the Marine Rescue Sub Centre. The centre closed on April 30, 2012, and service coverage for offshore Newfoundland and Labrador was transferred to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Halifax. This has created significant staffing pressure on the JRCC.

“The issue of search and rescue is of critical importance to Premier Dunderdale, and she has directed me to continue to call on my federal counterpart to act on the matter,” said Minister O’Brien. “I will continue to raise these issues with Minister MacKay and I look forward to continuing my dialogue with him on a way forward which will improve search and rescue capabilities here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

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Media contact:
Hugh Donnan
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 725-6511
hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca 

2013 05 06             1:45 p.m.