Keith Ashfield

[The Environment, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Act has and will continue to have strong protection against pollution to ensure that Canadian waters are clean. There are zero changes to the federal protections against pollution.

[Search and Rescue, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have addressed both of these issues many times.

With regard to the Kitsilano question, Vancouver will have an abundance of federally-funded search and rescue assets available to protect and save lives. In fact, British Columbia is served by 13 search and rescue lifeboats, two hovercrafts and two helicopters.

Changes in Vancouver will have no negative impact on our ability to respond quickly and effectively to distress incidents on the water.

[Search and Rescue, January 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, we are confident that changes in the Quebec City operation will have no negative impact on our ability to respond to distress incidents on the water quickly, effectively and in both official languages. Quebec is served by 19 Coast Guard vessels including seven search and rescue lifeboats, two hovercraft and six helicopters. We are ensuring that the Coast Guard has the resources to do its job and to save lives.

[Search and Rescue, January 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we are confident that changes in Quebec City will have no negative impact on our ability to respond to distress incidents on the water quickly, effectively and in both languages.

We are ensuring that the coast guard has the resources to do its job and save lives.

[The Environment, January 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, over the past five years our government has provided significant funding in new investments in research and science. Economic action plan 2012 continues that trend by committing to cleanup efforts for Lake Winnipeg and Lake Simcoe and supporting research, education and training with new funding for universities, granting councils, and leading research institutions, such as Genome Canada.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the decisions relating to the Marine Rescue Sub-Centre and Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres closures were made by cabinet and are therefore considered cabinet confidences.

The requirement to protect the confidentiality of cabinet confidences is protected by convention, common law and legislative provisions.

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the decision to close the Canadian Coast Guard marine rescue sub-centres, assessments were conducted and presented as part of the Government of Canada's strategic review process in fall 2010.

With regard to the decision to close the marine communications and traffic services centres, assessments were conducted and presented as part of the Government of Canada's deficit reduction action plan process in fall 2011.

Due to confidential nature of this material, the file numbers cannot be shared.

[Fisheries and Oceans, October 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this government is responsible for the fishery and we will continue to do so. With regard to gear tags, we believe it is the cost of doing business and the people who are doing the business should be responsible for their cost.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth.

Technology has evolved over the last number of years, and our government is investing in the Coast Guard's infrastructure to take advantage of today's technology to deliver the same services from larger centres at strategic locations across the country.

Better connected centres equipped with modern technology will ensure improved reliability of service.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we made the legislative changes required to enter into our regulatory process. We are continuing that process. We will be discussing this with people across the country and various groups. We fully intend to do that and we are in the process of making that happen.