Rally planned tomorrow as feds prepare to shut down another Coast Guard base
Posted May 5, 2015 11:12 am.
Last Updated May 5, 2015 11:31 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As the federal government prepares to shut down a fourth Coast Guard base, a rally is being held tomorrow at the site of the now-closed Kits Coast Guard Base to oppose that decision.
The feds are consolidating the Victoria and Vancouver Marine Communications and Traffic Services out of Sidney, on Vancouver Island.
The government is pitching this move as an improvement — something the critics don’t buy.
“The only thing we’re seeing from the Conservatives is instead of world-class spill response… world-class spin response,” says Gavin McGarrigle with Unifor.
“Clearly, they’re worried about this. They know they’re offside with British Columbians on this. They know that British Columbians feel that they’re tone deaf.”
McGarrigle says it will mean the loss of jobs, but also poses a safety risk.
“Fisherman, for example, and other people that are transporting goods around — they need to know that if they get in trouble, that they’re going to get lots of backup and lots of centres that are going to pick up their distress calls.”
The feds note similar consolidation occurred in the 1990s with the shutdown of half of bases, and claim service quality wasn’t reduced.
Tomorrow’s rally at the closed Kits Coast Guard base takes place at noon.
