Veteran Vancouver Island MP James Lunney told a radio station last week that he was concerned about the closure of the Kitsilano search-and-rescue station in Vancouver and a number of marine communications centres across Canada, including centres in Vancouver, Comox and Tofino.
But Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, directed blame at bureaucrats rather than Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"I've made some strong representations on trying to get a better take on this," Lunney said in a radio interview. "I think some of the decisions might have come from bureaucrats in Ottawa and we need a little more reflection on the best way to move forward with the Coast Guard concerns."
New Democratic Party MP Fin Donnelly slammed Lunney for criticizing cuts in budget implementation legislation that he has repeatedly voted in favour of in Parliament.
"Instead of taking responsibility, the member blamed 'bureaucrats in Ottawa' for these closures," Donnelly, MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam, said in a statement in the House of Commons.
"Ironically, he made these remarks less than 12 hours after he voted on the Trojan Horse budget bill, the very bill shutting down these stations. When government MPs cut services in Ottawa, they should at least have the courage of their conviction to defend them at home."
Lunney was not available for comment, though a spokesman said the MP planned on issuing a statement later Monday.
One of Lunney's colleagues, David Wilks of the Kootenay-Columbia riding, was caught on video recently telling constituents he had serious concerns about C-38, the omnibus budget implementation bill that includes everything from major changes to the Old Age Security program and immigration to the revamping of the Fisheries Act.
But Wilks quickly issued a statement supporting the Harper government's budget after that video was publicized in the media.
Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Peter O'Neil
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