The NDP's public safety critic is calling for the BC Liberals to join them in presenting a united front to Ottawa opposing coast guard cuts.Kathy Corrigan says the federal government is refusing to listen to stakeholders who are telling them, to a man, closing Kits base is a bad idea.Corrigan says it is time for the opposition and the BC government … [Read more...]
Riot aftermath leaves citizens frustrated and seeking closure
June 15, 2012 by
One year after the Stanley Cup riot, only two people involved have made their way through the justice system. Ryan Dickinson and Emmanuel Alviar - both 20-years old - are currently serving jail terms, after pleading guilty. But the majority of riot suspects have not even been charged. In fact, out of the 225 files Vancouver Police have referred to … [Read more...]
NDP to raise Coast Guard closure issue in the House
June 5, 2012 by
The federal New Democrats are using their last opposition day of motion in the spring session, to debate the closure of Coast Guard stations across Canada, including the one in Kitsilano. Newfoundland MP Jack Harris will raise a motion, asking the federal government to reverse cuts to Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centres, and the closure … [Read more...]
Minister defending Kitsilano closure
June 4, 2012 by
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 … [Read more...]
Dix proposes “united action” against Kits closure
May 27, 2012 by
NDP leader Adrian Dix is extending the olive branch to Premier Christy Clark - in an attempt to save the Kitsilano Coast Guard base.In a letter to the Premier's office, Dix calls for "united action" in reversing the federal government's decision to close the station.That proposed action includes passing a motion in the legislature, a joint … [Read more...]
Coast Guard: “misinformation” about looming Kits closure
May 25, 2012 by
The Canadian Coast Guard says there has been a considerable amount of misinformation about the impact of the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard station. Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Jody Thomas, is disputing some of the statistics used by the union to highlight the importance of the base. She says, on average, the soon-to-be closed … [Read more...]
Union says the federal government is pinning its closure plans on “unproven technology”
May 22, 2012 by
The union representing marine communications centre staff is warning the federal government is relying on unproven technology to close three BC centres. Canadian Autoworkers Union Regional Director Allan Hughes says there isn't even a working model for the technology. Hughes says leaving just two centres to handle the workload … [Read more...]
Fight against Kits closure ramps up
May 22, 2012 by
55 lives saved so far this year. Staff at the Kitsilano Coast Guard base are launching a public appeal aimed at keeping that station alive. They claim to have saved nine lives alone over the long weekend. A strong municipal-political contingent, joined both base personell and union staff in a public call on the Harper government to reverse its … [Read more...]
Mayor wants Ottawa to reconsider Kits closure
May 22, 2012 by
Vancouver's mayor wants to make the city's opposition to the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard station official. Gregor Robertson is putting forward a motion to city council next week, to have the city write a letter to the federal government, urging Ottawa to backtrack on a decision made last week to close the station. Robertson is also … [Read more...]
Coast Guard closure prompts Park Board motion
May 22, 2012 by
More fall-out from the federal government's decision to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station...NPA Park Board commissioner John Coupar plans to table a motion, directing staff to examine what the board can do to respond to the cuts. "We have a really proffessional group in our organization and I'm sure that they can engage, maybe engage the … [Read more...]
