John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

December 2, 2002

Coast Guard Loses Track of Surveillance Ship
Exchange in Parliament

OTTAWA- "The Canadian Coast Guard lost track of a Russian surveillance ship, the Kapitan Man, in Canadian waters north of Vancouver Island on the weekend," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond).

Today in Parliament Cummins questioned the Minister responsible for the Coast Guard about the inability of Coast Guard's marine traffic control system's to track the Kapitan Man. The Hon. Robert Thibault responded that questions about the Russian surveillance ship should be directed to the ship's owners, presumably the Russian government.

John Cummins: Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of the Coast Guard is in agreement with the Canadian Alliance. He said the Canadian Coast Guard is unable to adequately protect Canada's coastline from terrorists, that for the most part for most of the B.C. coast there is no radar capability. The Commissioner admitted the Coast Guard depends largely on an honour system to obtain information on the whereabouts of incoming vessels, that the Coast Guard did not have clue who or what was entering Canadian waters. When will the Coast Guard be provided with the resources it needs to secure our borders?

Hon. Robert Thibault (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans): Mr. Speaker, if the Commissioner did agree with the Canadian Alliance we would be in trouble indeed. The Canadian Coast Guard works in co-operation with all other departments under the direction of the Department of Transport who has the responsibility for coastal security. We work with the Department of National Defence to ensure that we keep our coasts secure. It is not the sole responsibility of the Canadian Coast Guard. The Coast Guard supports, and it does a very good job.

John Cummins: Mr. Speaker, we are in trouble all right. Here is a fact. The Kapitan Man is a Russian spy ship long of interest to security forces in Canada and the United States. Three days ago the Coast Guard tracked the Kapitan Man from Seattle to Victoria to Tofino. Two days ago the Kapitan Man voluntarily reported anchoring off Massett in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Yesterday the Canadian Navy asked the Coast Guard if it could provide information on the small vessels seen approaching and tying alongside the Kapitan Man. The answer was no. The Coast Guard has no surveillance radar in the area. Can the minister tell us what this spy ship is up to?

Hon. Robert Thibault: Mr. Speaker, let me repeat. The Canadian Coast Guard works in co-operation with the Department of National Defence, with the RCMP and with all other government agencies to ensure that service is provided to Canadians. Perhaps if he wants to know what that vessel was up to, he should ask the owners of the vessel. If the Canadian Coast Guard or the military has information, it surely would not be made public here today.

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