Government Presses for Search and Rescue Centres

The Government of Newfoundland Labrador continues to advocate for reliable and effective federal Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities in this province and has outlined to the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) its opposition to the closures of the Marine Rescue Subcentre in St. John’s and Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres in St. Anthony and St. John’s.

“This government continues to impress upon the Government of Canada, the importance of these centres for the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. “The closure of these centres diminishes the capacity of the Federal Government to respond to marine incidents in this province. With the offshore being the workplace of many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, it is essential that we have the capacity to respond quickly to ensure the safety of those people in the event of an incident.”

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's response to the National Search and Rescue Secretariat - Quadrennial SAR Review this month, outlines the vast contribution of the province and its partner agencies in delivering Search and Rescue programs. The response also outlines the Government of Newfoundland Labrador’s opposition to the closure of the Marine Rescue Subcentre in St. John’s, and the closures of the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres in St. John’s and St. Anthony. To review the response visit www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/exec/0726n11SAR.pdf . A high level delegation of provincial officials articulated these concerns in person at a forum held as part of the review in Ottawa earlier this month.

“Our Premier is showing leadership on this issue by raising our concerns at the Council of the Federation this week,” said Minister Collins “We are availing of every opportunity to outline how search and rescue works in our province, to raise our long-standing concerns with the federal SAR program and to outline that the loss of these resources limits the ability to respond to maritime disasters. In addition to restoring these centres, the province continues to call on the Federal Government to undertake a thorough review of maritime safety in this province.”

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Media contact:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs
Labrador Affairs Office
709-729-1674
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca 

2013 07 26             1:45 p.m.