Search and Rescue - NL - Second Class Citizens

How many times do we have to lose loved ones in Newfoundland and Labrador - to the sea - to the ice - inshore - offshore? How many enquiries do we need on the failed rescues of fishermen - offshore oil workers - children?

The reality is that we need dedicated services in Labrador, St. John's, and Gander. The reality is that our coastal and northern geography is challenging and massive.

Will is cost more money? Yes! Is it essential? Yes!

The continued downsizing of our search and rescue presence has been going on for decades. Bit by bit by bit.

The reality is that with the relatively new industry of offshore oil and gas development, continued fishery, and increased travel in northern climes has made it necessary to increase not decrease search and rescue assets.

Please read the information below. I will do this study in three or four parts.

The truth is Search and Rescue is as important as any other service and therefore - more not less - must be spent on this essential. It is NOT acceptable to nickel and dime Newfoundland and Labrador again. 

There are 3  Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCC) in Canada. 


One is in British Columbia
One is in Ontario 
One is in Nova Scotia

This was fine pre-confederation - but now? No! This is obviously flawed. The East Coast is Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2005, JRCC Victoria responded to over 2,900 SAR cases, with a greater number of Category 1 and 2 cases¹ than the other two JRCCs. This disproportionate level of serious SAR activity can be attributed to the higher amount of recreational activity, changeable weather and challenging topography on the west coast. While the other two regions have Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres in Quebec and St. John's, JRCC Victoria has sole responsibility for its region. This centralized function is best for the Victoria SRR as the ocean area is smaller and marine traffic patterns are different from those on the east coast.

The Halifax SRR is geographically the second largest of the three regions but prosecutes the fewest number of incidents.

In 2005, JRCC Halifax responded to 1,962 SAR cases. Fishing activity continued to provide the majority of cases in the Halifax SRR as the fishing industry forms a large part of the economy. Most marine SAR activity is concentrated in the Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island region of the SRR. Quebec had the majority of air incidents while Newfoundland and Labrador was high in humanitarian incidents, many of which were medical evacuations and assisting the RCMP with lost hunters.


2005 was a much busier year than normal for JRCC Trenton. A total of 3,070 incidents were handled — 2,286 maritime, 400 aeronautical, 205 humanitarian and 179 unknown. Compared to 2004, the marine incidents were higher and the air incidents were also slightly higher.
In 2005, the causes of marine incidents were:

• 50% human error;
• 35% mechanical;
• 11% unknown; and
• 4 % weather.

This reinforces the need to continue educating the boating community in order to avoid mechanical breakdowns caused by human factors.

Look at the Coastline and Landmass of NL and ask yourself why the Centre is in Halifax?

 

 

 In 2005 SAR reported what are known as Significant Incidents.

3 were noted in BC Region 2 air related incidents and 1 Ferry

1 was noted in the Atlantic Region - Newfoundland and Labrador the capsizing of the Melina and Keith II.

The other two notes are found below. Read them CAREFULLY. Can you see the hypocrisy?




The Canadian Coast Guard was pleased to offer a helping hand to the United States of America Coast Guard during the relief effort. In September 2005, Canadian Coast Guard vessel, CCGS Sir William Alexander, was dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico, accompanying Canadian Navy vessels, as well as fast response craft and a helicopter. The CCGS Sir William Alexander, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, assisted with heavy lift operations during the weeks following the destructive hurricane.
 
On September 4, as part of Operation UNISON 2005, the Canadian Forces' contribution to relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, two CH-146 Griffon helicopters also deployed to the United States of America Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Massachusetts to help cover the Boston SAR area of responsibility over the Labour Day weekend, returning to their squadrons on September 12. The six H60 Jayhawk helicopters, normally on stand-by for SAR duty in this region, were involved in the Coast Guard flood relief operation on the Gulf coast.

Will the missing Cod find their way to the Base in Goose? Ask Harper and Dunderdale!

You can see how the Stephen Harper government will support Newfoundland and Labrador.

Department of Fisheries budget cut by $53 million.

Department of National Defense axing 2,100 positions.

Are you impressed with Premier Dunderdale's support of Harper?

The only reason Stephen Harper will give a loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill is to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador loses more of its valuable resources to other provinces. Just like the first 5,000 MW's to Quebec - we lose.

Stop the Emera deal and tell Kathy Dunderdale NO in October.

Critics of the Emera Deal are not naive, partisan, or fools Premier

I wonder if Kathy and the Wilderdale government believe that all of us are ignorant, naive, not worthy of contribution to the discussion, partisan, or fools? Let me inform the Premier and the nodding ignorant heads - otherwise referred to as the caucus - that they should wake up and realize this is not the 60's and we are not going to let another Upper Churchill ruin the future of yet another 2 or 3 generations. As I have suggested in the past - Skinner and Dunderdale need to come out to a public debate and see if they can stand up to the critics who know full well this deal with Emera is a Legacy of Shame.


Below is a copy of a letter to the Editor in the Evening Telegram 
I felt it important that I and any others interested in our future should share these comments.
It is written by Charles Martin Elmsdale - a former resident of Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Natural Resources Minister Shawn Skinner recently wrote a letter to the editor in The Labradorian about the benefits Labradorians would receive from the Muskrat Falls project.

The people of Labrador deserve more than this letter to the editor. This is simply unacceptable. Other than his letter to the editor, I am certain that many Labradorians would appreciate if Minister Skinner could share with us the reports that he has that are based on the consultations with the Labrador people in Labrador communities that reveal:

1. Benefit considerations to individual Labrador communities and aboriginal groups:

2. Considerations (with cost estimates) to have the diesel generators in the communities on the north and south coasts of Labrador disposed of for cheap, clean, renewable and reliable hydro energy:

3. Cost-benefit analysis that actually examines the potential benefits to Labrador communities by gaining access to adequate power that will do more than simply allow them to keep the lights on over the winter months:

4. The results of the “consultations” undertaken by the Newfoundland Government prior to its awarding of contracts and signing interprovincial development agreements — please share a copy of that report.


5. A detailed project charter, including contracting requirements and listing all of the contracts that have already been awarded by the Newfoundland government under the name of the Lower Churchill development project.

To date, I would say to Minister Skinner, I believe it is fair to say that the people of Labrador have not been afforded the openness, public consultation, due process and due diligence that so many in this great country enjoy.

I would go so far to say that you cannot provide us much more than the letter to the editor that you have already provided, much less the analysis and reports I have suggested.

Shame on you, sir, and your government for taking your anti-democratic approach to a major development such as this.

Broken Promises to Newfoundland and Labrador - Divorce Please

I see Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal MP's are gearing up for a spring election. They have started by using the national party's "Five Years of Harper : Broken Promises" list. 

First of all I want to thank them for the obvious - Stephen Harper does not tell the truth - he lies. They have compiled a partial list of promises broken - and no doubt it reiterates in a not so direct way - that Stephen Harper lies.

For Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - that have suffered "broken promises" lies since CONfederation - this is not news.

For the people of our province -there are two things troubling about this list:

The first is the list itself - the focuses - the missed elements,

The second is the Liberals do not say what THEY will DO about the issues noted in the list.

Let's look at some of the "list"

29. Replace CAIS with separate farm income stabilization and disaster relief programs that are simpler and more responsive.

Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives simply changed the name of the program but farmers say it’s no easier to use.

30. Commit to adding an additional $500 million annually to farm support programs.

Government Action: Broken. Although they committed the money early on, overall support for farm support programs has dropped.

31. Get the $5B in softwood lumber tariffs back.

Government Action: Broken.

33. Extend the two hundred mile limit to the edge of the Continental Shelf, the nose and tail of the Grand Banks, and the Flemish Cap in the North Atlantic.

Government Action: Broken.

57. Make the Canadian Coast Guard as a stand-alone agency.

Government Action: Broken. It remains a Special Operating Agency as the previous government had made it.

83. Achieve permanent changes to the equalization formula.

Government Action: Broken. The “permanent” changes lasted one year before they were changed again.

88. Make the Senate an effective, independent, and democratically elected body that equitably represents all regions.

Government Action: Broken

90. Make all votes in Parliament, except the budget and main estimates, “free votes” for ordinary Members of Parliament.

Government Action: Broken.

98. Recruit 13,000 additional regular forces and 10,000 additional reserve forces personnel.

Government Action: Broken.

112. Modernize the administration of our fisheries to ensure greater focus on conservation and using administrative sanctions, rather than court proceedings, to deal with violations.

Government Action: Broken. The new Fisheries Act died when Stephen Harper called an early election in 2008 – the bill has not been re-introduced.

113. Work with Western Canadian grain farmers to ensure that the results of the barley plebiscite are respected and that they are given the freedom to choose whether to sell grain on the open market or through the Canadian Wheat Board.

Government Action: Broken.

116. Assert Canada's rights over our Arctic waters, including the Northwest Passage

Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives released yet another “Arctic strategy” in 2010 while failing to fulfill their past promises for the North. They continue to insult the people of the North with more empty promises and rhetoric.

117. Reforming or Abolishing the Senate.

Government Action: Broken. Stephen Harper broke his pledge to only appoint elected Senators, instead he appointed 38 Senators - all Conservatives - just since the last election.

Let's have a quick review of the "broken promises" above. Numbers 29, 30, and 113 are relative to farming and if you read them carefully - the Liberals focus will probably remain on the Prairies for vote gains and breakthroughs in those farming provinces. Remember now - the Government of Canada does not manage or control the farming sector and is not responsible for weather phenomenon, world commodity prices etc. but they actually demonstrate through cash and incentives more for that sector that they do for a renewable resource (the fishery) they were directly responsible for managing. They throw around 500 million additional in farm support programs.

This has been no different than the Liberals when they held government.

Promise needed by all parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador 1 billion a year or find the fish. What will the Liberals do for the fishery? What have they broken promises on in the past relative to the fishery?

Number 31 deals with getting the 5 billion dollars back for the softwood tariffs fiasco with the United States. The Liberals presumably are all for going after that money - yet I hear no commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador to give our 5 billion back for the devastation of the ground fish stocks.

Promise needed by all parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - at least 500 million a year for 10 years for loss of industry, people, employment and communities resulting from fisheries mismanagement.

Now number 33 is one of my favorites - dealing with extending the 200 mile limit to the nose and tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap. Wow are the Liberals really complaining about that promise broken? They invented it. Then we compare the note that only says "broken" to that promise to the note attached to number 116 see below.

116. Assert Canada's rights over our Arctic waters, including the Northwest Passage

Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives released yet another “Arctic strategy” in 2010 while failing to fulfill their past promises for the North. They continue to insult the people of the North with more empty promises and rhetoric.

Now which one to you think the Libs will focus on the Arctic or the nose and tail?

Promise needed by all political parties to Newfoundland and Labrador - extend the jurisdiction and assert our rights on the fish stocks. 

CONfederation the Libs and Conservatives have never recognized that they now have a new east coast and it is not Nova Scotia.

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - real presence and real response times to protect our fishers and offshore workers.

Now number 83 deserves it's own separate post but nevertheless "equalization" - the Libs apparently disappointed in not achieving permanent changes to that formula. I'm glad it was not permanent - it's costing us 10 billion dollars. We beat (figuratively speaking) 2 billion out of Lib Paul Martin only to lose it to Stephen Harper's lies and Manning's absence of backbone.

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - the removal of non-renewable resource revenues from the formula before the oil is gone and our childrens' future destroyed.

Numbers 88 and 117 deals with promises on Senate Reform - they can't be serious - the Libs are telling us that we should be angry that the Senate is not elected, not equal, and not effective. Best I can tell they are simply annoyed that the Cons now have majority in this dysfunctional waste of money. The Upper House - the brain trust of our people - the intellectual haven - right Fabian?

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - elected, equal, and effective Senate or abolish it and find a way for provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador get a real vote on major issues affecting us. This structure of both Parliament and the Senate is killing us.

Number 90 deals with "free votes" in the House of Commons - and the Libs are apparently complaining about this "broken promise" - sure you are. We should have been in an election by now.

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - any issue including budget and estimates that would negatively affect a region or province - must be allowed to be a free vote. These MP's are elected to represent their people - period - full stop.

Number 98 deals with additional armed forces personnel both full service and reservists. Now everybody say after me "Happy Valley - Goose Bay" One can quickly note that neither the Libs or the Cons are committed to this.

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador - Happy Valley - Goose Bay priority number 1 and we will not tolerate any more delays. Further some creative presence in Stephenville focused around the port and airport would be necessary.

Number 112 needs to be reprinted here

Modernize the administration of our fisheries to ensure greater focus on conservation and using administrative sanctions, rather than court proceedings, to deal with violations.

Government Action: Broken. The new Fisheries Act died when Stephen Harper
called an early election in 2008 – the bill has not been re-introduced.

Yes let's all administrate the violators into submission - Is that the best you can do relative to the fishery?

Promise needed by all political parties this election to Newfoundland and Labrador -once again pass over the 5 billion and an additional 1 billion annually or find the fish.

Now even this short review gives us the voters enough to work with and reminds the MP's and wannabe MP's that talk is cheap and the idea of going to Ottawa is not to get yourselves atop the agenda but rather do what it is you were elected to do. Get the job done or move over.

 How many Newfoundland and Labrador MP's does it take to change a light bulb?

One to talk about the light bulb - one to promise to change it  - one to shop for a new light bulb - one to put up a ladder - one to study if that's the best approach - one to call for public consultations - one to ask questions of the government about changing the bulb - and the last to remind us that the Conservatives promised to change it and didn't. Oh we are one short!