Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary is well aware that during the summer months there are literally thousands of boats on these waters every day. Shipping vessels, commercial fishermen, cruises, guides, outfitters and pleasure craft will now be monitored by a skeleton crew at a remote post, all to save a few bucks.
Sarnia's Coast Guard radio has three to four operators on duty 24 hours a day, but only two of those operators specifically monitor the marine emergency channels. During the 2011 boating season, Sarnia responded to 647 incidents. Now the Conservatives are going to add the 391 incidents the Thunder Bay station dealt with when Sarnia takes responsibility for all of that station's coverage area. It is being asked to do this without any additional staff on duty.
Why is the Conservative government cutting good-paying jobs in northern Ontario? How does putting people out of work help our economy? Why are the Conservatives victimizing boaters?
Will the government do the right thing for marine safety, abandon its reckless cuts and maintain the Thunder Bay marine communications and traffic services centre?