Feds invest in Coast Guard vessels, claim they take safety in BC ‘seriously’
Posted July 3, 2015 12:36 pm.
Last Updated July 3, 2015 6:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DELTA (NEWS 1130) – Despite a lot of criticism when it comes to the Coast Guard over the last couple of years, the Federal Government insists it’s doing a good job of protecting the country’s West Coast. Ottawa is buying 27 new vessels from a local company.
Between spill response times and several drop-outs in radio communication between marine centres in recent months, the connotations haven’t always been positive when you hear the words ‘Conservative Government’ and ‘Coast Guard’ in the same sentence.
Minister of National Revenue Kerry-Lynne Findlay insists the Tories take safety on the coast seriously.
“We have invested the most of any Canadian government in history in our Coast Guard assets. We take it very seriously and I know the Coast Guard personnel are the most professional men and women in the world.”
She adds any naysayers out there have it all wrong.
“We’re here making a good announcement today about our investments and people, I think, should do a little research — do your homework, because they will find that we do have a world-class system here.”
The government is spending $7.6 million on new vessels which will be built by Delta-based Zodiac Hurricane Technologies. Eighteen of the ships will be station-based, while the other nine will be smaller boats to be used on larger vessels.
