Harper vows to reinstate N.L. weather office
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 6, 2005 | 11:06 AM ET
CBC News
In a news release on Monday, Harper said he would reinstate marine and aviation forecasting in Gander, services that were phased out in 2004 and transferred to Moncton and Montreal.
Erroneous forecasts have drawn scorn from local residents and municipalities, and have been the target of a petition campaign this year.
Harper said faulty forecasts are more than a nuisance in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"They endanger the lives of people who work offshore, and that is unacceptable. The Liberals simply don't understand that weather forecasting in this province is unique," Harper's statement said.
The weather office, which still operates but with dramatically reduced responsibilities, is in the federal riding of Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor.
The riding traditionally votes Liberal, although Tory Rex Barnes scored an upset victory in a 2002 byelection.
Scott Simms brought the riding back into the Liberal fold in 2004.
The Conservatives have nominated Aaron Hynes, an Ottawa-based legislative aide with family roots in the region.
Martin would create 'centres of excellence'
Prime Minister Paul Martin, who was campaigning in St. John's Monday, stopped short of matching Harper's pledge.
Martin said if he is re-elected, he would support building regionally based centres of scientific excellence.
"We have to be achieving excellence ... and one of those areas is weather," Martin said.
"I can't think of a better place for [a centre of excellence] to be than here."
