VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Federal NDP may have launched a petition to save the Kitsilano Coast Guard base but one expert believes it won’t go anywhere. The SFU political scientist thinks the closure is a done deal.
“I think the decision’s been made, and governments rarely unmake those kinds of decisions,” says Marjorie Griffin-Cohen. “I doubt [the petition] will have an effect, and also it can be hard after the fact to rally people.”
But she says one benefit of the petition is that it will keep the Kits Coast Guard issue alive, and may be an easy way to ‘rally the troops’.
“You can do it by email and you can get a large number of people quite quickly,” she adds. “That might show, at least, the level of displeasure here in BC with what’s happening.”
So far, that displeasure doesn’t seem to be having an impact on the Conservative Government, which continues to defend the abrupt, unnanounced closure of the station last week.
“Clearly, they have made up their mind,” says Griffin-Cohen. “I doubt the NDP thinks the Harper Government will change its mind on this issue.”
Local MPs Fin Donnelly (New Westminster – Coquitlam), Libby Davies (Vancouver East) and Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway) have launched a petition, arguing the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard base puts lives at risk.
The demand is to immediately re-open the base, which responds to hundreds of calls each year.
Click here to find the online petition.
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Yup, that’s right, we will have to have some deaths before they government see sense. I guess Mr. Harper is buying votes back East isn’t he.
Well, any deaths will be on his shoulders!
Who the heck cares i live in Port Moody i dont even go near Kits or English Bay, dont use a boat or go by the water if you feel harm. Its simple and is a good way to save money, Thank you Mr. Harper
Hate to tell you but the base serviced up to your area (and up the other way to Howe Sound) so when there was a water incident they were the ones called out to help your neighbours.
People can be the best swimmers, boaters etc. and accidents happen.
Taking BC and the western provinces and making a new western country will though.
No, petitions won’t work. It looks like we’ll have to wait for the inevitable death on the water before the Harper Government (Pat Pending, TM) sees the folly in its closure of the Coast Guard base.
Deaths on the water happen regardless of the Kits station. We had a number of them when it was operating and we’ll have more in the future. The closure has no effect on people’s behaviour – some will play it safe, some won’t, and freak accidents are always possible regardless. And don’t forget that help is still available out of Coal Harbour, Richmond, from volunteer organizations and the Police.
Those vessels are constrained where they can go and not always manned. Plus the Coast Guard has little control over them. SAR is a secondary role for them, actually pretty much a 3rd level role, they will respond if the call is urgent, but don’t expect them to do a 7 hr search.
Plus by your reckoning, I suppose you want all services east of the Rockies cut as well, since you don’t use them?
Ya lets also get rid of fire, police and ambulance services too because hey you can’t save them all so why bother.