The following letter was sent to MP John Weston and copied to Coast Reporter.
Your government's recent decision to close the Kitsi-lano Coast Guard station is mind-boggling. Closing the only station in the busiest harbour in Canada and replacing it with a Coast Guard Auxiliary, volunteer-staffed rescue boat is a potentially reckless and life threatening decision.
Theresponse to people who criticize this decision has been to accuse them of denigrating the work of our volunteer search and rescue auxiliary. No one has criticized the auxiliary members, and we all believe they are an integral part of the safety of our mariners on the coast of B.C. They work hard and put their lives at risk every time they are called out on a rescue. To use them as a political football is disgusting and beyond contempt.
Minister Moore said it was after extensive consultations, yet it became public that the only consultation was with the Dept. of National Defence. You could not produce any studies of the number or nature of the emergency callsfrom that station and did not speak to any serving Coast Guard members, retired but highly knowledgeable Coast Guard staff, the harbour authority or the cities involved.
Your government then said we are getting a new hovercraft, which will increase safety, but you fail to mention this is a replacement for an aging craft and is not an increase in available equipment.
By your lack of public response to this decision, I must assume you agree with the policy. When you make decisions that have far reaching impacts on the safety and future of Canadians, I expect more from you and your government. I expect you to back up your decisions with competent analysis of the need and consequences and not respond with personal attacks on anyone who questions them.
Paul Keyes
Hopkins Landing
