HALIFAX - The Liberal government has made good on a promise to reopen the maritime rescue sub-centre in St. John's, N.L., as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's $1.5 billion ocean-protection plan.
Fisheries Minister Dominic Leblanc made the announcement Monday in St. John's as details of Ottawa's plan for Canada's coastline was unveiled at simultaneous news conferences in Newfoundland, Halifax and Vancouver.
Newfoundland and Labrador politicians of all stripes joined forces four years ago to protest when the former Conservative government under Stephen Harper shuttered the centre, which co-ordinated search and rescue efforts off the province's coast.
Ottawa at the time defended the move, saying technology allowed for money-saving consolidation of services without cutting safety.
Under the ocean-protection plan, two new Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat stations will be constructed in Newfoundland and Labrador. The lifeboat station in St. Anthony, N.L. will also be refurbished.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna touted the government's plan to strengthen responses to marine oil spills while speaking in Halifax, a city with heavy marine traffic. She said the government will increase funding for the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research in Halifax
