FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2012
Liberal MPs in BC Demand Conservative Government Rescind Decision to Close Kitsilano Coast Guard Base
OTTAWA – Today’s boating collision in English Bay and the quick response by the Kitsilano Coast Guard highlights the important need to keep this critical station open before lives are lost, Vancouver Quadra Liberal MP Joyce Murray and Vancouver Centre Liberal MP Hedy Fry said today.
“The rapid response of Kits Coast Guard to a pre-dawn boat collision in English Bay today, averted a tragedy,” said Fry. “There is no way the Richmond Sea Island base could have done that. Kits serves the busiest waterway in Canada where incidents like this can happen without warning day or night. Do we have to lose a life before the government pays attention?”
“Our community relies on the Kitsilano Coast Guard for situations just like the one we saw today in English Bay,” added Ms. Murray. “With the increasing number of recreational boaters, tankers, and cargo ships operating in the area, the need will be ever more acute.”
“We want to thank the brave efforts of the men and women of the Coast Guard who work to keep us all safe on the waters off Vancouver. We strongly encourage this Conservative government to reverse its decision to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station, before there is loss of life,” said Murray and Fry.
Recently the Conservative government announced the closure of Canada’s busiest Coast Guard station at Kitsilano, which responds to over 300 calls each year and more than 70 calls this year alone. Liberal MPs have repeatedly called on the Conservatives to reverse this harmful decision.
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For further information:
Jeff Guignard
Office of Joyce Murray, MP
(613)995-1640
Ryan Cotter
Office of the Hon. Hedy Fry, MP
(613)220-0275
