OTTAWA– Liberal Fisheries critic and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, Lawrence MacAulay, made the following statement on the Conservative government’s decision to buy fancy new electronic tablets for senior managers at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), while the rest of the department undergoes significant cutbacks:
“It really is embarrassing that this government is going to cause further harm to Canada’s fisheries by gutting scientists and science programs from DFO in order to save money, but at the same time can hand out new toys and gadgets to senior department officials, charged to taxpayers’ pockets.
We’ve seen $57 million in cutbacks to DFO, including termination notices being given to 400 employees two weeks before Christmas. We have also recently received unconfirmed reports which indicate the government is closing the only DFO licensing office in P.E.I. The government has said that these steps are part of their strategic review. Well, if strategic review means firing scientists, closing licensing offices and search and rescue centres, and gutting the budget for Small Craft Harbours while spending taxpayers’ dollars on new toys for senior officials, this is it. My advice to the Harper government would be to do a strategic review on your strategic review because your priorities are seriously out of order.”
Member of Parliament for Random-Burin-St. George’s, Judy Foote, continued:
“The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Conservative government desperately need to get their priorities straight. They are gutting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and risking lives by closing the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John’s. If the Harper government can afford these types of purchases for senior managers and can spend over $50 million dollars for Economic Action Plan advertising, surely they can keep the St. John’s Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre open to protect the safety of all who make their living at sea, including fishers and people who work in the oil industry.”
Member of Parliament for St-Laurent-Cartierville, Stéphane Dion, concluded:
“The Conservative government demonstrates yet again their lack of judgement in the management of public funds. On the one hand, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans budgeted resources for management to purchase electronic tablets, yet on the other hand, they are preparing to shut down two Centres for Marine Search and Rescue, which will not actually produce significant savings. Between the electronic tablets and the Centres for Marine Search and Rescue, which one will be more useful in preventing catastrophes like the one that occurred in Italy last week? Ask yourself that question and you will answer: the centres in Quebec and St. John’s must remain open.”
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