Petition Against Closure of Coast Guard Facilities
IBEW Local 2228 encourages all members to sign a parliamentary petition against the closure of Coast Guard facilities in western Canada.
A bit of history: in May of 2012 the Harper Government announced the closure of ten Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centres across the country. Nine of the Centres have already been closed and the MCTS Centre in Comox, BC is scheduled to close this spring. The Liberal Government announced that they will reopen the MSRC (Marine Search and Rescue Centre) in St. John\'s, NFLD and at the Kitsilano Base but they intend to carry on with the closure of the Comox MCTS Centre.
Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres provide a vital communications link for mariners and coastal communities. They also help to protect the marine environment by monitoring the movements of vessels (such as cruise ships, tankers, cargo vessels, etc.) through our coastal waters. MCTS Centres also provide a communications link for mariners in distress and serve as Tsunami Warning Centres for mariners and coastal communities. The Comox MCTS Centre is the only one on the BC Coast that is not in a Tsunami Zone and closing it could leave the entire BC Coast vulnerable in the event of a major seismic event.
The petition asks to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to stop the pending closure of the Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre in Comox BC as well as reopen the MCTS Centres in St John\'s NL, St Anthony NL, Saint John NB, Rivière au Renard QC, Montréal QC, Inuvik NT, Vancouver BC, and Ucluelet BC.
Please sign the petition and pass it on to your members, co-workers, friends, families, and anyone else that can help to reverse these cuts to the Coast Guard.
In Solidarity,
Daniel J Boulet
Business Manager / Financial Secretary