Harper criticized for ignoring West Coast ‘outcry’ to reopen Kitsilano rescue station

OTTAWA — The federal government, reportedly poised to reverse a decision to close a marine rescue station in Quebec City due to public pressure, should also listen to West Coast complaints and bring back the Kitsilano rescue station, the New Democratic Party argued Thursday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is ignoring B.C. public complaints while Conservative MPs in the Lower Mainland have “gone silent,” Fin Donnelly, MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody, argued during question period.

“Why will they not listen to their local communities and reopen the station?”

Democratic governments and looking out for others

Recently the Harper government decided to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station which provided search and rescue services in waters bordering Vancouver. The numerous watercraft (representing 20 million human transits annually) crossing English Bay and False Creek now have to depend on a station over one-half hour from the centre of water traffic.

Though only one small instance of massive government cutbacks, it nevertheless affects the sense of well-being in the lower mainland of British Columbia.

Gregor Robertson: Kitsilano Coast Guard Closure Will Put Lives At Risk

VANCOUVER - City councillors in Vancouver want to discuss the closure of a local coast guard station with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

They passed a motion on Tuesday, calling for talks with the prime minister, while asking the city's fire department and police to join the battle to keep the Kitsilano coast guard station open.

Closure of Kitsilano coast guard base will cost lives, report proves: union

A confidential report on the risks of closing the Kitsilano coast guard base shows lives will be in danger if the closure goes ahead.

Calling the report “explosive,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said it “clearly states a high risk of increased fatalities due to the Kits Coast Guard base closure. And that’s a massive concern for all of us in Vancouver.”

City council is awaiting a staff report detailing the impact of the closing on resources like police and fire boat operations, Robertson said. Once that report is available, the mayor and council will consider their next move.