St. John's rescue centre would reopen if elected, Justin Trudeau says
The federal leader of the Liberals says if he becomes the next Prime Minister of Canada, the Marine Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's will be opened again.
Justin Trudeau told CBC News keeping people safe is vital, and is the responsibility of government.
The Conservative government closed the centre in May 2012, citing $1-million in tax savings.
"One of the most important responsibilities of any government is the security of its citizens. Closing down the marine rescue centre and general cuts to search and rescue is not the way we need to be going," Trudeau said during a taping of On Point.
The decision to close the centre was opposed locally by many people, who expressed concern about the quality of search and rescue as a result.
In 2011, then-premier Kathy Dunderdale said the provincial government was fighting against the decision to close the centre
At the time, Dunderdale said she was in "serious disagreement" with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the issue.
A rally opposing Ottawa's decision was held at the waterfront in St. John's in 2011, drawing thousands of people. Mayor Dennis O'Keefe called on the federal government to reverse the decision.
Since the centre's closure, calls for search and rescue have been rerouted to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centres in Halifax, N.S. and Trenton, Ont.
You can catch Trudeau's full interview with Peter Cowan on this week's On Point at 7:30 p.m. NT Saturday.