Safety concerns ignored by Conservatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 27, 2008

“Safety Concerns Ignored by Conservatives,” charges BC MP Keith Martin

ESQUIMALT – Dr. Keith Martin, the Member of Parliament for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca spoke today about the importance of Search and Rescue Aircraft to the safety and security of British Columbians. Dr. Martin was responding to reports that the Conservative government had cancelled the program to replace our aging Buffalo Search and Rescue aircraft. Based out of Comox, these aircraft are essential components to rescue operations in our treacherous and mountainous terrain. The availability of dependable fixed wing SAR aircraft is a matter of life and death in western Canada.

“This is a serious safety issue,” said Dr. Martin. “While our CF personnel do a remarkable job keeping these Buffalos flying, one can only do so much with 40 year old aircraft. Mr. Harper is willing to deprive BC of the planes we need for another seven years, which jeopardizes the lives of our CF personnel and those who may require assistance.”

In the 2004 budget, the previous Liberal government allocated $1.3-billion to purchase new aircraft, recognizing the urgent need for replacements. However, the Harper Conservatives have ignored this need, focussing almost all of their attention on international military operations such as Afghanistan. The Liberal government also modernized the procurement process to allow for the much faster acquisition of military equipment.

“The Conservatives took advantage of our modernized procurement process to get four C-17 aircraft in less than two years,” said Dr. Martin. “Why do we now have to wait seven years or more to get six new Search and Rescue aircraft – a purchase everyone agrees is desperately needed? Our domestic needs must not be forgotten, especially those for British Columbia.”

Dr. Keith Martin is the Member of Parliament for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca and the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence.

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Safety concerns ignored by Conservatives

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