Mr. Chair, my first motion reads as follows:
That the Committee invite the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to appear prior to Wednesday, December 11, 2013, to provide the committee with an update about the government's intentions regarding the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre in Quebec City.
Mr. Chair, I am tabling this motion because this subject has become extremely important. We must remember that it was in June, 2011, that the government announced for the first time its intention to close the MRSCs in Quebec City and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is now December, 2013. In the intervening months, the government even announced that it would wait until the Commissioner of Official Languages had undertaken a site visit and given his approval to make the transfer once the centres in Halifax and Trenton were up to snuff and able to receive emergency calls.
As we all know, the centre in Quebec City is the only maritime search and rescue centre in Canada that is not only francophone, but also bilingual. This is mainly because of the St. Lawrence. We need to remember the history of this rescue centre. It was set up in Quebec City specifically because the other centres had not been able, in the past, to answer calls concerning incidents on the St. Lawrence, which is a very challenging waterway. It is important to know the river. It is important to know the landmarks. This is impossible for people from outside the area.
Since 2011, the government has not provided an action plan, nor has it announced that it is now safe and that the transfer can go ahead. I find this very troubling. When I questioned the Commissioner of Official Languages on this issue, he answered that it was not up to him to do this work. He was very clear last Wednesday, when he appeared before the committee. It is not up to him to tell the government whether or not these centres are ready to provide services, nor is it up to him to give his approval if they are. He will determine after the fact whether or not the services are adequate. He will undertake an audit after the fact, but it is not up to him to tell the government whether or not it can move forward.
We have been in this situation since 2011, and the transfer still has not taken place. It is essential that the government not go ahead with this. People's safety is at risk.
I will end my remarks there, Mr. Chair. I ask my colleagues to support this motion.