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<center>MP Martin: Victoria needs its own coast guard unit</center>
<center>Rob Shaw, Times Colonist
Published: Friday, March 28, 2008</center>
Greater Victoria should have its own full-time coast guard search and rescue unit, says local MP Keith Martin, although the suggestion is being greeted with scorn by existing volunteer mariners.
"Those Straits of Juan de Fuca are so busy it only makes sense to have a dedicated coast guard presence, as do other areas that are heavy traffic zones," said Martin, who represents Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. "We're not asking for anything unusual."
The nearest dedicated coast guard search and rescue units are on Saltspring Island and in French Creek, north of Nanaimo.
When an emergency happens in the waters off Victoria, the military's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre usually orders one of three local coast guard auxiliary units to the scene. The auxiliary is on call 24 hours a day, and sends out volunteer members in eight-metre-long rigid-hull inflatable boats.
Some auxiliary members don't like the idea of a permanent unit taking over their calls. "There isn't really a need for it," said Mark White, deputy unit leader. "Victoria has an excellent track record of responding to incidents."
Auxiliary members get to calls within 30 minutes, which is the same response time as full-time crews, said Bruce Falkins, president of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific.
Martin said the intent is to complement the auxiliary, not replace it. But Falkins said a dedicated unit would make the auxiliary redundant.
Only regular coast guard crews can be properly trained for disasters and marine security, said Gerald Hartwig, a Victoria developer and former Oak Bay auxiliary member who is working with Martin on the issue. "You can't train volunteers with that stuff. They don't have the hours. They only get three hours of training per person on the water a month."
Martin estimates an eight-person full-time Victoria coast guard search and rescue service would cost around $700,000 a year, including $20,000 for startup. The idea has the support of the Victoria police marine rescue unit, which is often first on scene for marine incidents but is not properly equipped for an extensive search and rescue.
"It has been our feeling for a number of years now that there should be a proper full-time lifeboat here," said Victoria police Sgt. Jim Simpson, marine patrol unit commander.
The coast guard undertook a needs assessment in 2006 to see if Victoria warranted a full-time unit. Martin said he has asked to see the report, which he believes will recommend a permanent presence. But he said he has been denied a copy.
Martin filed a formal access to information request earlier this month and is accusing the government of massaging the report because it recommends increasing coast guard funding.
Coast guard spokesman Dan Bate said the report is not complete and therefore cannot be made public.
The coast guard does have a Victoria headquarters near Fisherman's Wharf in James Bay, from which some large research ships and helicopters are stationed for deployment around B.C.'s coast. In the case of an emergency, if one of those ships was nearby, Bate said it could be used for rescue purposes.
rfshaw@tc.canwest.com
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008
<center>MP Martin: Victoria needs its own coast guard unit</center>
<center>Rob Shaw, Times Colonist
Published: Friday, March 28, 2008</center>
Greater Victoria should have its own full-time coast guard search and rescue unit, says local MP Keith Martin, although the suggestion is being greeted with scorn by existing volunteer mariners.
"Those Straits of Juan de Fuca are so busy it only makes sense to have a dedicated coast guard presence, as do other areas that are heavy traffic zones," said Martin, who represents Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. "We're not asking for anything unusual."
The nearest dedicated coast guard search and rescue units are on Saltspring Island and in French Creek, north of Nanaimo.
When an emergency happens in the waters off Victoria, the military's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre usually orders one of three local coast guard auxiliary units to the scene. The auxiliary is on call 24 hours a day, and sends out volunteer members in eight-metre-long rigid-hull inflatable boats.
Some auxiliary members don't like the idea of a permanent unit taking over their calls. "There isn't really a need for it," said Mark White, deputy unit leader. "Victoria has an excellent track record of responding to incidents."
Auxiliary members get to calls within 30 minutes, which is the same response time as full-time crews, said Bruce Falkins, president of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific.
Martin said the intent is to complement the auxiliary, not replace it. But Falkins said a dedicated unit would make the auxiliary redundant.
Only regular coast guard crews can be properly trained for disasters and marine security, said Gerald Hartwig, a Victoria developer and former Oak Bay auxiliary member who is working with Martin on the issue. "You can't train volunteers with that stuff. They don't have the hours. They only get three hours of training per person on the water a month."
Martin estimates an eight-person full-time Victoria coast guard search and rescue service would cost around $700,000 a year, including $20,000 for startup. The idea has the support of the Victoria police marine rescue unit, which is often first on scene for marine incidents but is not properly equipped for an extensive search and rescue.
"It has been our feeling for a number of years now that there should be a proper full-time lifeboat here," said Victoria police Sgt. Jim Simpson, marine patrol unit commander.
The coast guard undertook a needs assessment in 2006 to see if Victoria warranted a full-time unit. Martin said he has asked to see the report, which he believes will recommend a permanent presence. But he said he has been denied a copy.
Martin filed a formal access to information request earlier this month and is accusing the government of massaging the report because it recommends increasing coast guard funding.
Coast guard spokesman Dan Bate said the report is not complete and therefore cannot be made public.
The coast guard does have a Victoria headquarters near Fisherman's Wharf in James Bay, from which some large research ships and helicopters are stationed for deployment around B.C.'s coast. In the case of an emergency, if one of those ships was nearby, Bate said it could be used for rescue purposes.
rfshaw@tc.canwest.com
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008
