Union wonders if Kits Coast Guard base could’ve saved lives

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The union for Coast Guard workers believes we have yet to see the full effect of the loss of the Kits Coast Guard base.

It’s been a year since the federal government abruptly announced the closure.

The union points to two deaths since the closure, both of them medical emergencies; Dave Clark with the union wonders if the incidents might have had different outcomes, had the Kits base still been there.

“We know the Kitsilano Coast Guard base members could have gotten to the ship faster and gotten to the paramedics faster, but we’re not sure if that would have made a difference,” he tells us.

Clark also argues a Stanley Park rescue station last year was given staffing beyond the original plan, leading him to wonder what happens if it’s reduced.

“It’s questionable if we’re seeing the full effect of the closure of Kitsilano Coast Guard base, but as soon as they go to the program they are talking about, we’re suggesting that’s when we’ll see the real issues come out of the closure.”

The base was shut down despite opposition that included Vancouver’s mayor.

In a statement, the Coast Guard says they’ve responded to 682 distress calls in the area since the Kits base closed. In all cases, it says the reaction time was less than 30 minutes, consistent with international standards.

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