Mr. Speaker, the federal government assumed responsibility from Nova Scotia for managing Sable Island in 1867.
In 2000, federal cost cutting led to Sable Island Preservation Trust taking over responsibility for operating the station. The trust has now given notice to terminate activities next April due to further federal funding reductions.
The annual cost to run the station is about $1.2 million. This maintains five people on staff and they are important as the only human presence on this fragile island.
Recently the government set up a multi-departmental group to make recommendations about the federal future role on Sable Island. The working group has now recommended that the station remain open and the federal government once again assume full responsibility.
I urge the government to adopt the recommendations of the working group.