Remove dangerous shipwreck quickly: Turmel

HALIFAX — In a meeting with Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, New Democrat Leader Nycole Turmel called on the Prime Minister to protect Nova Scotia fishing communities by ensuring the prompt and safe removal of the oil tanker that ran aground last month.

“The MV Miner is perched in an ecologically sensitive area and a major Nova Scotian fishing route. Every day that shipwreck remains, the livelihood of local fishing communities are put at risk. These fishing communities have to be our number one priority,” said Turmel.

The 230-metre MV Miner ran aground off Scaterie Island after it broke free from a tow line on September 20. Most of the potential marine pollutants have been removed, but if the grounded ship breaks up before it is safely removed, fishing communities will face new risks.

“The men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard have done tremendous work removing marine pollutants from the wreck. Now I’m calling on Mr. Harper to do his part and put every possible federal resource into removing this wreck as safely and quickly as possible,” said Turmel.

New Democrats have persistently criticized the Harper government for failing to make maritime security a priority. Instead of improving rescue coordination, this government is closing marine rescue centres. It has grounded search and rescue helicopters for lack of parts and failed to improve Canada’s unacceptably slow rescue response times.

Turmel was in Halifax to meet with Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter. The New Democrat leaders discussed upcoming federal-provincial health care negotiations, as well as Dexter’s leadership in steering Nova Scotia through rough economic waters.