VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver’s mayor is expressing his disappointment over the sudden closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station.
In a statement, Gregor Robertson says the closure is “a sad day for Vancouver.”
He is promising to work closely with police and fire to figure out the immediate impact the abrupt closure will have on the water.
“I encourage citizens to continue to make their opinions known to all Members of Parliament representing citizens in Vancouver and across BC,” he says.
“It is tremendously disappointing that the Federal Government has chosen not to listen to a broad consensus of marine safety experts who consistently expressed their concerns about the clear dangers posed by this closure,” Robertson adds.
The station was closed yesterday with no notice given.
The national office of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees was informed by Deputy Coast Guard Commissioner Jody Thomas the decision had been made and it was effective immediately.
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Get the connection yet? Mayor moonbeam is not concerned about safety but backing up his buddy’s…
I guess the mayor can always assign the VPD police boat to patrol the waters around Vancouver.
This is a federal issue and not a photo op for the Mayor. The Mayor needs to address the issues that he can change and stop attaching himself to aread that are not his mandate.
There are many pressing issues in Vancouver and Gregor’s only legacy will be bike lanes. As a world class city we can do better.
Mayor Moon Beam, you could have spent the $ from your unused bike lines if you were so concerned about the closure of the guard station. Just because it’s a Federal responsibility, it doesn’t mean you ‘didn’t have to try’ to save it. Fail. Fraud. Fake. Unhappy Planet.
Earth to Mayor: This is a Federal concern and the decision has been made. Deal with it. Now, how about looking after civic concerns that affect businesses in Van that you can control. Like, for instance, addressing the hounding of legitimate businesses currently being picketed by misdirected, sad souls in the downtown eastside. Like, for instance, your council’s constant interference in, again, legitimate business initiatives like your meddling in the new Waldorf Hotel owners plans and/or the rezoning of Beach Towers. The city is becoming a joke under you.
If the mayor of Vancouver was so concerned he could divert some of $5 million earmarked for the Hornby – Stanley Park bike lane and fund the station.
This service costs only $1 million per year and it was a cut-back. I am sure our government could have found better internal cut-backs then this. What a joke. Have a look at this article and tell me we couldn’t come up with the money for public safety: http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/07/99-stupid-things-the-government-did-with-your-money-part-i/
Oh just let it go already!
I’m a boater. The number of incidents in the inner harbour and English Bay are quite high, especially in summer. If it take over 30mins for the hovercraft to get there from Richmond it’s too late. Another example of the Federal Gov’t off-loading all of their responsibilities and commitments to Provincial and Municipal (VPD) shoulders. What a joke.
You do realize that there is a Coast Guard station in Coal Harbour, don’t you? English Bay and the inner harbour are still serviced by CG.
Have fun waiting for the VOLUNTEER coast guard service from Coal Harbor to get there. lol
Best part is that someone will die in a boating accident and then the government will have to open up another paid Coast Guard station again spending hundreds of thousands of dollars again. This is just madness. We are a port city and can’t rely on volunteer coast guards for all our safety. Maybe if the Conservatives weren’t buying $16 orange juices and opening up $5 million a year ‘religious freedom offices’ they would have some cash to spend on its own citizens who pay taxes for services like this.
Hey Pat, you do realize that the Station in Coal Harbour is actually a paid coast guard station (nothing to do with volunteers) As for the volunteers, most of the world is served (quite well) by such crews. If you knew anything about it, you would know that two of the Coast Guard’s current boat designs are based on RNLI models (UK based volunteer rescue crews). Why, because they are the best of the best. It’s time taxpayers started asking some questions, the ones the union doesn’t want you to ask.
The Conservative Party’s Randy Kamp said Coal Harbor is currently staffed by VOLUNTEERS. You might wanna call him and tell him he is wrong then. You obviously know more than he does or you talking about the paid person answering phones. lol ya go volunteers…nice to know someone might come if they have the time to rescue our loved ones. Maybe we should make everyone volunteer..doctors, nurses, teachers, police…we would save sooo much more money and then spend that on more Religious Freedom Agencies.
Coast Guard auxiliary station in Coal Harbour to ease sting of Kitsilano closure
http://www.globaltvbc.com/coast+guard+auxiliary+station+in+coal+harbour+to+ease+sting+of+kitsilano+closure/6442785083/story.html
Why would you wait for any coastguard? All boaters are expected to come to the aid of any boat in distress. This is boating 101. Is this concept foreign for some of the socio-paths behind the helms in Vancouver? No other region seems to have a problem with it.
The world isn’t going to end now that the station is closed. Life will go on, and this issue will soon be forgotten (thank god).
Since it’s now unsafe to be on the water are you going to give up your hobby?
“Saddened Mayor” should have done something…. for once.