Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield says he’s confident the safety of mariners won’t be compromised by the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard base.
Ashfield says as it stands, much of the current response to marine emergencies comes from near-by boats.
“The JRCC, the joint rescue group through DND, they can task the closest boat at hand to respond to an incident…and we rely on those types of things quite heavily. So, its not just one partner. Its a group of people who work together in a network to provide marine safety.”
Ashfield says despite the criticism, he’s not reconsidering the decision.
In fact, Ashfield says he’s been told response times may even be better after changes are put into place — which includes the addition of a new in-shore rescue boat out of Vancouver harbour, and a new hover craft.
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