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Don’t balance budget with mariners lives, news conference told

Search and Rescue coordinator Merv Wiseman speaks Friday at a news conference called by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to launch a video arguing it makes no sense to force Canadians to choose between a strong economy and services such as Search and Rescue. The delay in launching a Search and Rescue helicopter in the recent seach for a missing 14 year old boy in Labrador has again focused attention on the federal government's intention to shut down the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in St. John's later this year.— Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram

Search and Rescue coordinator Merv Wiseman speaks Friday at a news conference called by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to launch a video arguing it makes no sense to force Canadians to choose between a strong economy and services such as...

Published on February 3, 2012
Published on February 3, 2012
Topics :
Public Service Alliance of Canada , Allied Workers , Ottawa , Atlantic , PSAC.The

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) held a news conference in St. John’s this morning to continue the fight to save the marine rescue sub-centre.

PSAC, the provincial federation of labour and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union joined Maritime rescue coordinator Merv Wiseman and Oakley Johnston — a man rescued from his lobster boat last year — to all voice their opposition to Ottawa’s plans to close the centre, which now could happen as early as April 1.

The group also released a new YouTube video to illustrate how “absurd” the cuts are, where a squirrel stops a rescue professional from helping a mariner in need.

“Like (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper, that squirrel is just a rat with good PR,” said Jeannie Baldwin, the regional vice president for the Atlantic region of PSAC.

The groups agree that closing the sub centre will cost lives, and are unhappy that federal ministers responsible have refused to meet with them.

The video can be viewed here: www.thirdchoice.ca

Full story in the Weekend Telegram

Comments

  • Username
    Don
    - February 4, 2012 at 08:08:53

    This is about 12 jobs and nothing else. The universal language spoken by both marine and air traffic is ENGLISH. So if airline pilots and ships masters from foreign countries can understand Newfoundland SAR operators , why would they have a problem understanding operators in Nova Scotia or Trenton , Ontario. As far as Newfoundland operators knowing the coast better then anyone else is nonsense. With todays technology such as Electronic Locator Transmitter's (ELT), Global Positioning System's (GPS), and satellite's you don't need this office in Newfoundland.

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  • Username
    William Daniels
    - February 3, 2012 at 21:05:26

    Much to do about nothing? Closing a call center is NOT going to affect response time? Guess you guys just missed what happened in Labrador? What dumb comments.

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  • Username
    Stan
    - February 3, 2012 at 15:44:43

    Closing a call center is NOT going to affect response time. The people who are making these arguments are stuck in a time of paper maps and High Frequency communications between resources. A teenager's iPhone has as much locating and tracking technology these days as was ever available to these people during their hey day. Moving this function to any place on the planet will not make one iota of difference to response time. These arguments are part of a union-led charge against government austerity and utilization of modern search and rescue techniques. Good on you Mr. Harper!!!

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  • Username
    Duffy
    - February 3, 2012 at 14:46:58

    Much to do about nothing. Do we forget all the deaths and the "no or slow" responses. Just like the Gander Weather Station - if it leaves we will never get good weather reports. Well they are back and have you seen any more accuracy ? I rest my case.

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