Denise Savoie

GUN BOATS AND WHALES DON'T MIX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 14, 2007

U.S. live fire exercises in Canadian waters jeopardize famous J-pod orcas, visitors, and local tourist industry, says Denise Savoie

OTTAWA – The United States Coast Guard must stop live fire in the vicinity of the local orca population off the BC coast, said MP Denise Savoie (Victoria).

“Gun boats and whale pods don’t belong in the same waters. I see no reason why the U.S. Coast Guard should be using live fire in Canadians waters, especially in the area of the famous J-pod orca whales,” said Savoie.

Savoie pressed the Conservative government to justify why the U.S. Coast Guard is permitted to conduct live-fire exercises in Canadian waters, and to hold a consultative session with whale boat operators, biologists and aboriginal groups in the Victoria area to strengthen safeguards.

“We need to work together to ensure that live fire training doesn’t endanger marine life or threaten the safety of tourists,” said Savoie. “There should be stringent regulations in place to ensure that there are no close calls and no possibilities for close calls.”

Savoie also called on the government to release the report on a recent incident in which whale boat operators, tourists and a marine biologist were first-hand witnesses as the U.S. Coast Guard fired live munitions in a training exercise while whales were still in the immediate area.

“I want to make sure that the U.S. Coast Guard’s regulations on training exercises are consistent with Canadian regulations, and moreover that the whale population is protected from live fire or gun boats,”

Savoie has written a letter to Rear-Admiral Roger Girouard, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific Command, asking for the public consultation and offering assistance in organizing the event.