Keep St. John's rescue centre open: municipalities

The mayor of Conception Bay South says the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is getting involved in the fight to keep maritime search and rescue sub-centres open in St. John’s and Quebec City.

Woodrow French recently took the issue to a meeting of the FCM's rural forum in Nelson, B.C.

"I think we've got a lot more support and it certainly gives the opportunities for our members of parliament who are pursuing this issue to have another level of support when they go to the minister and prime minister in Ottawa," said French.

The sub-centres in St. John's and Quebec are scheduled to close next June.

"I moved that a motion be but forward to the board of directors of the federation of Canadian municipalities that they pursue this issue further with the federal government to support the position I've put forward that these centres should be maintained and indeed staffed in the future," said French, who said his motion received full support at the meeting.