A new Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat station has been announced for Hartley Bay.
On May 31 in Victoria, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc announced seven new lifeboat stations across Canada.
The stations are meant to address needs and identified gaps in service for ocean rescue areas in Canada, and will be located at Hartley Bay, Victoria, Port Renfrew, Nootka, two in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Twilingate and Bay de Verde.
“Through the Coastal Restoration Fund, we will support projects to rehabilitate some of our most important marine ecosystems … We have also enhanced the Canadian Coast Guard’s 24/7 emergency management and response capabilities and will significantly increase the number of Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat stations in key areas,” Minister LeBlanc said.
$108.1 million over five years is committed by the government, with ongoing funding of $12.2 million.
“These areas were chosen based on identified gaps in Canadian Coast Guard’s maritime search and rescue response capacity and planned marine traffic growth,” states the Government of Canada’s website.
“The exact location of the stations will be determined after a more detailed analysis is undertaken in each chosen area and the appropriate environmental assessments and community and indigenous consultations have been completed. It is anticipated that construction of the new stations will begin in summer of 2018.”