NDP MP Jack Harris says cuts to naval reserve training will have serious repercussions. (CBC)

The New Democratic defence critic says a cut to naval reserve training will have serious repercussions for how well Canada can patrol its own coastlines.

CBC News reported last week that naval reserve training will be cut by $3 million, or about five per cent of its budget. The training cuts involve staff in Nova Scotia.

"[This] is clearly going to have an effect on the ability of the coastal patrol vessels to operate," St. John's East MP Jack Harris told CBC News.

"[It's the] same as we had heard two months ago, which was supposedly cancelled," said Harris, referring to a controversial federal government decision that would have mothballed some of the country's coastal patrol boats.

Harris said a cut to training will mean there will not be enough reservists to staff Canada's patrol fleet, and that there will be other implications.

"It just means that a lot less activity can go on in the reserve and the reserves have been pretty important ... not only for reserve activity but also for supplying people who'd wish to volunteer to go to Afghanistan," Harris said.

Harris said the cuts undermine the Conservative government's support for the navy during this year's centennial celebrations.