Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Address by the Prime Minister on the weather forecast office reinstated

April 12, 2006
Gander, NL

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Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen:

It’s a pleasure for me to be here today, and to be here with many special people.

I would like to make particular note of:

Newfoundland and Labrador’s representative in the federal Cabinet, Fisheries Minister, the Hon. Loyola Hearn,

Member of Parliament and Chair of our Atlantic Canada caucus, Fabian Manning,

a young man who deserves considerable credit for why we are here today, Aaron Hynes,

and last but not least, a man who I first met in St. John’s a couple of months ago, where I signed his petition – something I’m sure he had many of you do as well – the chair of the committee to reinstate the gander weather centre, mr. Pat Dwyer.

Last December I made a promise to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – to recognize and respect the fact that theirs is a unique geographic area with many special characteristics.

And Newfoundland and Labrador is a land of majestic, raw beauty – a gem in the North Atlantic.

But being situated in these highly charged waters does create complications – including making the province susceptible to harsh turns in weather.

Of course, bouts of wild and unexpected weather are nothing new.

For Newfoundlanders have weathered the forces of mother nature for generations.

What is relatively new though is scientifically accurate weather forecasting technology

a technology our government believes the people of Newfoundland and Labrador should be able to benefit from.

In a short-sighted decision, the previous government closed the forecasting capabilities of the office,

forcing the province to use the weather forecasts from Nova Scotia.

This closure may have saved a few dollars to the Liberal government, but with poor results for Newfoundland and Labrador.

That is why i am announcing today our plan to restore the weather forecasting capabilities of the office here at Gander.

For years now, this province has had to endure inaccurate weather forecasts from nearly a thousand kilometres away in the Maritimes.

Such forecasts aren’t just an inconvenience, but at times pose a real danger to public safety.

Particularly affected by inaccurate forecasts are the thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who work offshore.

These men and women have to contend with some of the harshest conditions in the Atlantic on a good day.

On the bad days, raging winds and frigid swelling waters pose a grave danger to their personal safety.

This is a reality that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians know only too well.

That is why I am announcing today that one of the first acts of our new government is to restore forecasting capabilities to the weather office here in Gander.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve better than to be told to expect five centimetres of snow over night only to wake up to ten times that amount.

The education of the province’s youngsters shouldn’t suffer because schools close their doors for storms that fail to materialize.

The lives of the men and women who work in the already choppy waters of the Atlantic shouldn’t be needlessly endangered because of the arrival of unforecast squall.

In short, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve accurate forecasts that reflect the reality of the province’s unique weather.

This is the commitment I made to you in December.

Now, as Prime Minister, I can say without reservation – “promise made, promise kept.”

Our government is committed to strengthening safety in Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast.

And restoring forecasting capabilities through the reopening of the Gander weather office is just such a step here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the months and years to come, our new government will continue to fight for this province and its unique needs,

including examining whether any greater use can be made of the weather office here in Gander.

Whether it’s:

acting to protect your fishing resources inside or beyond the continental shelf;

exempting fishing property transferred within a family from capital gains tax; or

working with the province to increase its power over the local fisheries.

Our government will continue to stand up for the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador in ottawa.

Thank you very much.

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