NDP MP Fin Donnelly blasts Conservative majority for refusing to reopen Kitsilano Coast Guard base
The NDP MP for New Westminster–Coquitlam hasn't succeeded in his attempt to reverse Conservative cuts to marine safety, oil-spill response, and environmental-cleanup capacity off the B.C. coast.
That's because the Conservative majority in Parliament has defeated his motion to reopen the Kitsilano Coast Guard base and the Ucluelet Marine Communication and Traffic Service Centre. Donnelly's motion also called upon the government to halt plans to close the Vancouver and Comox marine communication and traffic service centres.
“The recent toxic bunker fuel spill in Vancouver’s harbour is an urgent reminder of the fragility of our coastal waters," Donnelly declared in a statement after his motion was defeated. "The NDP dedicated our first opposition day following the fuel spill to again urge the Conservatives to reverse their reckless cuts.
“Had the Kitsilano base still been operational, it could have responded to the spill in six minutes with the proper tools to prevent the oil from spreading," the NDP MP continued. "Instead, only a single, unequipped rubber boat was available."
He pointed out that the English Bay oil spill led to the closure of 16 beaches for health reasons.
Donnelly, the NDP's deputy fisheries and oceans critic, also stated that if his party forms the next government, it would reverse the Conservatives' decision to shut down the Kitsilano base and the Ucluelet Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre.
“The coastline is crucial to our economy, ecosystem and culture," Donnelly stated. "Canadians can trust Tom Mulcair’s NDP to fix the damage done by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.”
The federal government closed the Kitsilano base in February 2013.
Mayor Gregor Robertson called the move "a sad day for Vancouver".
Comments
5 Comments
Jon Q. Publik
Apr 21, 2015 at 8:40am
Because re-opening one Coast Guard base will suddenly make the government run agency magically more efficient?
Love that this has basically devolved from lets find a solution to better our response and become who can we blame for this and spin in our favour for votes in the upcoming election.
"the saddest"
Apr 21, 2015 at 10:53am
It is what it is. The Tories weren't on the job for cleanup and don't count on it in the future because it is a game changer when cleanup cuts into profits and government is forced to up its subsidies to big oil in the billions as the price of oil continues to slip slide away. Soon enough the beaches will not be fit for enjoyment.
Sandra Slobodian
Apr 21, 2015 at 2:54pm
But, because the Coast Guard sent out Western Canada Marine Response CORPORATION which is owned by Kinder Morgan, Imperial Oil, Shell, Chevron and Suncor - and that tells you how good they are at following through on promises. Oh wait, KM said it wasn't their business what happened "upstream" and at the end of the pipeline. Once the bitumen leaves their pipeline it isn't their concern....so why did they form this company whose job it is to clean it up when it spills in our waters? More importantly, why are our federally appointed agencies standing down to them?
Eriena O'Reilly
Apr 22, 2015 at 3:59am
I live in PEI, we have our Caost Guard dismantled for years now,piece by piece,by This f******gov. It is not hard to figure out where the so called balanced budget came from...Tony Clement should be ashamed to show his face,let alone go on camera buying a silly pair of shoes...can anyone help stop this maddness ......yes the NDP can....vote Tom Mulcair for prime minister in Oct.2015......
Roger Gamble
Sep 5, 2015 at 6:13am
How can anyone even think of believing one who has been caught in his outright lie, that leads people to a wrong conclusion based of how he lies as in the case of the bogus case of an immigrant child.