John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

18 November 2002

Now No Uniforms For Coast Guard
Cummins Demands Answers

Ottawa– “Claiming to have run out of money, the Coast Guard has notified its fleet on the West Coast that they will no longer be provided with the uniforms they need,” said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond).

Cummins demanded answers from the government today in the House of Commons:

Mr. Speaker, on November 6th the Coast Guard Minister advised the House that the men and women of the Coast Guard were “answering the bell”.

Yet on November 7th, the Minister was forced to admit to the House that the Coast Guard Fleet on the East Coast had been tied up because it had no money for fuel.

What he did not tell the House was that the Coast Guard on the West Coast has no money for uniforms.

Internal Coast Guard documents reveal that on October 28th all Coast Guard vessels on the West Coast were advised that –

“All uniform clothing requisitions dated from October 1st, 2002 will not be processed until further notice.”

Mr. Speaker, the men and women of the Coast Guard are trained to “answer the bell” when called on to do so but how can they do so without either uniforms or fuel for their vessels?

Mr. Speaker, with winter fast approaching and with nearly five months left in the fiscal year, when will the Coast Guard be provided with the uniforms they need?

Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957 or cell (604) 970-0937