Politicians object to use of SAR helicopter for fishing trip

Provincial opposition politicians are upset after photos showing a Search and Rescue helicopter resting on a shore while people appear to be fishing became public.

NDP MHA and emergency services critic George Murphy called the trip “a stupid decision” in a news release that stated the trip was apparently used as a reward for members of 444 Squadron at Goose Bay following their completion of maintenance and inspection work on a helicopter returning from Jamaica.

“I am all in favour of rewarding workers for doing a good job,” said Murphy, “but surely to goodness the commander could have found some other way than by using a military helicopter to take them on a fishing trip,” he said.

Liberal Torngat Mountains MHA Randy Edmunds said he respects the ned to reward military personnel, but objected to the use of the helicopter.

“I am appalled that DND would continue to use search and rescue equipment for pleasure in light of the recent controversy over search and rescue capability in Labrador,” he said. “The people of Labrador have been lobbying hard for improved search and rescue capacity in Labrador since the Burton Winters tragedy, and to have them exposed to this abuse of search and rescue helicopters is an outright insult to the people.”

james: - July 22, 2012 at 11:58:10

typical liberals whining again. what about the liberal member of parliment scott simms who took a free helicopter ride to fogo island @ the expence of taxpayers. what a bunch of HYPOCRITES liberals have become.

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Newfie Bullet: - July 21, 2012 at 20:19:47

So What!!! I would do it also if i had the chance, In the middle of nowhere with good Fishing!! you got to be mad not to. People just want to Bitch.

It aint that bad.: - July 21, 2012 at 15:09:05

It aint that bad. Search and rescue, the coast guard, etc.. it part of the military. Wilderness survival is very important in the military. This includes how to fish when the rations run out and you are stuck in the bush or behind enemy lines. Or how to get a helicopter up and down in an foregin wilderness. It is important to practice here at home first. This was just wilderness survival practice that others are calling a mere "fishing trip" for political point. These others don't seem to care about the safety or training of our soliders. Although, it is unfortunate that no other plane was sitting on the tarmac with the engine running waiting for a potential call.

David: - July 21, 2012 at 10:10:47

Does anynoe even realize how unlikely it was for anyone to ever get such a photo in the wilds of Labrador? The photo is the sole reason that anyone involved simply had to admit that the incident ever occurred. The odds of getting any evidence of such a boondoggle are one in a million.....makes me wonder for how many years other helicopters full of bureaucrats, politicians, and other embezzlers have been out there doing this...and lord knows, if you've got the cajones to steal a government helicopter, you're probably not too fussed about having a fishing license.

P F Murphy: - July 21, 2012 at 09:03:51

The purpose of the fishing trip was "to recognize the effort of the ground crews in completing essential maintenance and detailed inspection of one of the aircraft" so we can expect that the 5 people who were involved were the 2 pilots and 3 mechanical technicians. Then Capt. Bowen assures us that the "crew members on the trip were available if an emergency arose and could have responded if needed". How? By going back to base to pick up the SAR Techs and then going to the emergency? Time seems to stand still for the Rescuers flying the constantly in-need-of-repair junk they station in Newfoundland Labrador. Too bad it doesn't for those who freeze to death or drown so they can survive until the choppers are repaired, the weather is great, the Rescue crews are assembled and the Canadian Rescue Centre judges there is no where better for them to go.

opinion: - July 20, 2012 at 19:08:34

Liberal Torngat Mountains MHA Randy Edmunds said he respects the ned to reward military personnel, but objected to the use of the helicopter. “I am appalled that DND would continue to use search and rescue equipment for pleasure in light of the recent controversy over search and rescue capability in Labrador,” he said. Why?... is Edmunds pissed off they didn't pick him up and take him along? Search and Rescue is a very stressful job and there is nothing wrong with them fishing while out on any kind of mission or training exercise. Maybe they didn't have a place to stop for lunch and decided to catch some sushi. Politicians so piss me off at times. They just always need to stomp and romp like children about anything and everything. Leave the hard working men and women of the military out of your rants. Go do some of your office work or meet with constituents.

Useless: - July 20, 2012 at 18:31:23

They can use them to fly McKay Salmon fishing and the crews fishing but when there is an emergency or a young boy is lost they are broke down, in training at Tin-Buck-Two or it is raining out, windy and/or the weather is too bad. Why have them. Hire a civilian system like Kruger who take their responsibilities serious and let the Military do fishing trips for the Generals and Politicians.

Stephen: - July 20, 2012 at 18:08:51

Was Peter Mckay with them????

Leah: - July 20, 2012 at 16:48:48

Who in their right mind would make such a decision, especially with the Burton Winters situation still fresh in most of our minds. But, then again, I guess they deserve it more than that two-faced McKay. Could they have been "rewarded" some other way; surely there were other options. I can certainly understand if Burton Winters' family would be upset. Wouldn't you, if it had been your young son who froze to death because of SARs lact of response? For heaven's sake, stick strictly to search and resuce with these helicopters; nothing else.

feed up: - July 20, 2012 at 16:21:30

what can anyone do about this? NOTHING only wait for the next election and than people will forget and elect the same ioditic stupid people again.

Paul: - July 20, 2012 at 15:19:24

I can see how people will be upset , it looks bad...however, it costs no extra to the taxpayers since its likely written off as a training run (they do training runs all the time...) and they maintained response capability all the while...12 hours in their case. however it can be seen as a slap in the face to Labrador residents...

Eli

- July 20, 2012 at 17:16:59

Justified training exercise MY FOOT!
Malcxolm F. Brown

- July 20, 2012 at 21:57:42

This is the type of non incident that does nothing but make the public more cynical about where their tax dollars are going. If a supposedly intelligent tax payers cannot seperate this from a "pol" using these resources to get home an hourly faster than by commercial aircraft then this country is in even greater trouble then I thought. Get over it, and start asking the damn hard questions on where and why out tax dollars are going to highy profitable corporations with no return. Then again that would mean real investigative journalism and one must not be seen to be biting the hand that feeds them.
David

- July 21, 2012 at 10:44:17

First, 'using' a helicopter entails very regular maintenance and possibly repairs, so the 'cost' is real. The notion of having any SAR equipment or personnel seconded for any reason is unacceptable just on principle alone, even ignoring that there is a list of SAR calls where a proper response was not made because functioning equipment was not available. This stuff is political career ending, possibly government-toppling in any functioning democracy....but here, there is at least one local apologist who's defending it. Bravo, Paul. You'd really like Italy.

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Politicians object to use of SAR helicopter for fishing trip

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