Keith Ashfield

[Search and Rescue, March 7th, 2013]

The Canadian Coast Guard yesterday rescued two individuals within 17 minutes of receiving the call.

The strength of our response system is in the network of the responders. In this instance, on-water assets were tasked and under way, exceeding international search and rescue response time standards.

The coast guard is doing a fantastic job, and we should be congratulating them.

[Search and Rescue, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that the member opposite continues to attack the brave men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard and Coast Guard auxiliary.

The fact is that the—

[Search and Rescue, March 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we are very proud to support our search and rescue experts within the Coast Guard. The government has made enormous investments in the Coast Guard fleet to ensure that we have the capabilities to adequately carry out search and rescue.

Just today, as I previously mentioned, two people were successfully rescued after their fishing boat sank off Point Grey, British Columbia, well within the international SAR response time standards.

While the opposition voted against our government's unprecedented investments to renew the Canadian Coast Guard's assets in 2009 and 2012, I do hope it will support them in the future.

[Search and Rescue, March 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the member opposite has no understanding, completely no understanding, of SAR, search and rescue. The response time of the incident he mentioned was 11 minutes by the Royal Canadian Marine SAR auxiliary unit. They were there in 11 minutes. A previous incident had a 10-minute response time, and this morning, the response time, from the time we received the mayday, was 24 minutes.

[Search and Rescue, March 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, again, the member opposite is totally incorrect. The response time by the Royal Canadian Marine SAR was 11 minutes. It took 35 minutes for Sea Island to respond, but SAR was on location in 11 minutes.

In another incident that took place today, the response time was 10 minutes.

[Search and Rescue, March 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is totally wrong, again. The incident in question actually had a response of 11 minutes by SAR in Vancouver, an excellent service that is impeccable.

[Search and Rescue, February 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, of course the government's paramount concern is to allocate its resources in a way that is obviously based on advice from the Coast Guard and is best for public safety.

With respect to the timing, the Coast Guard said that it held exercises prior to the closure of the base last week and felt that the transition could proceed without any additional risk.

[Search and Rescue, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we have listened to search and rescue experts, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard. This question has been addressed thoroughly.

Vancouver will continue to have an abundance of federally funded search and rescue assets available to protect and save lives. British Columbia is served by 13 search and rescue life boats, 2 hovercraft and 2 helicopters.

[Fisheries and Oceans, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the only paranoia is on the other side of the House. There has been no change in the way DFO and DFO scientists deal with their science work. We encourage them and we will continue to encourage them.

[Fisheries and Oceans, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, there has been no change in DFO policy with regard to scientists.

We are very proud of the work our scientists do and encourage them to participate in conferences and networks throughout the world.