Criticism mounts over Makkovik search

The president of the Nunatisavut government said the Canadian military had "no need" to delay sending a military search and rescue helicopter to the north coast in late January.

Burton Winters, 14, of Makkovik, died last week after getting lost on his snowmobile near the community on Jan. 29.

Canadian Forces Search and Rescue didn't send in aircraft until two days after Winters was reported missing. A private helicopter joined in the search the day after the teen disappeared.

"To depend on commercial commercial airlines, or private airlines or whatever to do their search and rescue is just an excuse," said Nunatisavut president Jim Lyall.

Lyall's remarks echoed a statement sent out by Winters' family on Saturday. Their statement slammed the military's response, and said "this is not the time for excuses."

Lyall added a permanent search and rescue unit in Labrador would help increase response time. His suggestion comes as the government prepares to move the coast guard's maritime search and rescue subcentre to Halifax.

Lorraine Michael, the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP,  also had criticism for the military's efforts.

Michael said it was hard to fathom why private aircraft could search the area in bad weather while military aircraft could not.  She said it should be standard practice for military aircraft to be first responders. 

 "They have a technology that's far beyond what, often, the private helicopters have because they're not equipped to do full search and rescue, so I'm absolutely shocked and dismayed," said Michael.

An official at the Department of National Defence said the case is being investigated.