One of the recurring arguments that the Canadian Coast Guard bureaucrats use to support the de-staffing of our Lightstations is that the jobs that Lightkeepers accomplish do not fall under the Coast guard mandate. The following explanation provides a much needed correction.

Through Lightstations, the two departments of Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Environment Canada (EC) have a long history of sharing work, information, and services. EC provides the Lightstations with the equipment for Lightkeepers to collect data seven or more times daily. The data, along with the keepers' scheduled and special weather observations, are sent to CCG radio stations (Marine Communications and Traffic Services - MCTS), who broadcast the information to mariners and distribute it to aviators. MCTS also sends the Lightkeeper's report on to EC. The forecasters at EC look at the Lightstation reports as they come in, and often make changes to EC forecasts and/or make weather warnings as a result, especially when reported conditions exceed forecasted values. Understand that these warnings are often based on Lightkeepers' observations of deteriorating conditions spotted off shore or in specific areas within sight of the station and not at the station itself. Even if automated wx collection systems are in place, are working , and are transmitting, they are not able to pick up this 'off shore' information.

As part of their rationale for their latest attempt at de-staffing, Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) officials are stating that they are only responsible for the light - the 'Aid to Navigation'. This approach may have something to do with the fact that CCG was restructured a few years ago: 'Real Property' owns the facilities; 'Marine Navigational Services' include the aid to navigation, and so on. 'Silos' is the actual word used for resulting allocations. Sharing is difficult and often acrimonious. With this type of bureaucratic compartmentalism there appears to be no room for the melded-service platforms of Lightstations, even though the CCG mandate clearly includes almost all of the services that Lightkeepers provide.

Stated (by their own literature) as CCG objectives are: protection of the marine environment, facilitation of marine commerce, and support of marine scientific excellence. Stated (by their own literature) as CCG services are: Maritime Search and Rescue, Environmental Response, Marine Communications and Traffic Services, Aids to Navigation, Maritime Security, Support of DFO mandates, and Support to other government objectives. Lightkeepers are active participants in the successful provision of all of these stated services and the resulting attainment of all of these stated objectives. Lightstation staff serve the public both directly and indirectly through at least seven Federal Departments: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Department Public Safety, Parks and Department of National Defence. Interesting that it is precisely the Lightkeepers' ability to adapt and provide such a variety of services which is threatening to destroy them. In the end, it may be the role of Parliament to figure out who pays for what, but the mariners and aviators, and related workers and businesses must not suffer because one agency of one department has declared that they wash their hands of all but one service.

CLA PRESENTATION TO SENATE LIGHTHOUSE COMMITTEE IN NANAIMO

The Canadian Lighthouse Committee made a presentation on November 17 to the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in Nanaimo's Dorchester Hotel. (See below full text of CLA Submission.)

The Senators were in BC from November 16 to 20, " to meet with regional representatives and local residents whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by lighthouse operations from marine safety, heritage preservation and tourism.”

But those “meetings,” in Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Prince Rupert and Vancouver, were by invitation- only, and did not include public meetings where BC residents could tell the Senators what they think about eliminating lightkeepers from BC’s 27 remaining staffed lightstations.

Lightkeepers are key to public safety for marine and aviation communities on both coasts. Despite claims by some federal Fisheries and Oceans bureaucrats, the extensive services performed by lightkeepers have not been replaced by automated equipment.

“Lightkeepers continue to assist in search and rescue, act as first aid outposts, relay warnings and distress calls, liaise with RCMP, fisheries, pollution control and other agencies,” said Alice Woods, a CLA Director and lightkeeper at Chatham Point, north of Campbell River. “We help to ensure Canadian sovereignty by maintaining a strong presence on our coastlines. Lightkeepers also protect public assets, the gems of our coasts, the Lighthouses.”

In September 2009, Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said lightkeepers would be eliminated. But after public outcry, Shea asked the Senate Fisheries Committee to recommend on any further destaffing. The Senate is expected to submit a report by the end of December.
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To learn more about the committee’s work, visit their website: http://senate-senat.ca/fopo-e.asp.
For more information or to write to the Senate Fisheries Committee please contact:

Ceri Au, Communications Officer
Tel. 613-944-9145, auc@sen.parl.gc.ca

Danielle Labonté, Committee Clerk
Tel. 613-949-4379, labond@sen.parl.gc.ca
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FULL TEXT OF CLA's SUBMISSION:

Nov 17, 2010: Presentation to Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans meeting in Nanaimo, BC.

1. The Canadian Lightkeepers Association:
The Canadian Lightkeepers Association was inspired and founded by Chatham Point lightkeeper Steve Bergh shortly before his untimely death in August 2010.

The Canadian Lightkeepers Association is a registered BC non-profit society that includes lightkeepers, as well as fishers, recreational sailors, those employed in marine related industries and ordinary residents of coastal BC. The CLA’s purpose is to promote awareness and understanding of Canada's lightstations, and record and preserve the history of Canadian lightkeepers and lighthouses.

2. Keeping our Seas Safe:
Today’s automated technology, amazing as it is, has yet to create a machine that can substitute for a human being. And that is especially true when considering the tasks performed by lightkeepers. No automated lighthouse can see or hear a mariner in distress and then make the decisions that can mean the difference between life and death.

No machine can launch a rescue skiff or retrieve a hypothermic kayaker. No machine can resuscitate or offer refuge for a cast-ashore mariner. No machine can act as the eyes and ears of SAR in some of the remotest and most dangerous locations that by definition is where lightstations are sited.
With the growing popularity of kayaking and other outdoor recreational pursuits that take people into remote parts of BC, it is more important than ever to maintain the human safety network of which lightkeepers are an essential element.

3. Moving People and Goods:
The safe passage of cargo ships, fishing vessels, tugs and barges, ferries, cruise ships and coastal aviation is vital to the provincial and national economy. BC’s 27 staffed light stations are essential in ensuring the safe movement of people and goods.

Canadian lighthouses are strategically located in remote areas and surrounded by hazardous waters. Electronic equipment can and does fail and therefore retention of staffed light stations adds a valuable resource to mariners and aviators.

Coastal communities rely on waterways and airways to move people and products. Light keepers are often the only source of accurate real-time weather observations that can be crucial to mariners and fliers especially during these winter months

4. Protecting the Environment:
Lightkeepers monitor and report oil spills and other sources of pollution. The recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, although not directly related to tanker traffic, nevertheless raises concerns given the potential increase in oil tanker traffic off the west coast. Additional marine traffic safety precautions should be instigated.

De-staffing lighthouses would be reducing our capability of preventing or mitigating a marine disaster.
Lightkeepers also collect valuable data including sea and air temperature, precipitation, water quality, and observe wildlife in remote areas. This data base of observations - some a century in the making- is an important source of information not only for scientists grappling with climate change, but also for fisheries and cetacean researchers and oceanographers.

Eliminating staffed lightstations would deprive scientists and academics of important information. To re-establish and maintain a series of 27 scientific observation sites capable of providing 24-hr data would likely cost more than simply retaining existing staffed lightstations.

5. Showing the Flag:
Staffed light stations maintain a presence in isolated areas. With almost 16,000 miles of remote coastline in BC, it is important to keep a human presence at strategically located installations which fly a Canadian flag and reinforce sovereignty in our waters.

In the last 20 years, many countries have automated their lighthouses. In those cases there has been a corresponding, increase in the presence of military or coast guard forces to assume the duties of light keepers. Other countries with isolated and remote coastlines, including Chile and Brazil, have chosen to retain staffed light houses as a means of maintaining a “coast watch” in strategic or high risk locales.

6. Saving Money:
On April 13, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea spoke before your Committee in Ottawa. She said, “Cost saving from de-staffing would be about $8 million a year.”

We suggest that that is false economy.

Lightkeepers perform a range of duties that fall under the mandate of DFO/Coast Guard, Environment Canada and Canada Border Services Agency. If lightkeepers were not on hand to perform those tasks, it can be reasonably assumed that DFO/Coast Guard, Environment Canada and CBSA would have to expend funds to have some or all of those services performed.

The 2009-2010 budgets of DFO, EnviroCan and CBSA is about $4.5 billion. The cost of lightkeepers within that overall budget is about 0.1 per cent. In most accounting systems, that is not a significant saving.

7. Existing Policies:
Many organizations have expressed support for keeping staffed lightstations.

The current Federal Government’s policy, as stated in 2008, is to “uphold the retention of light stations, their personnel, and their aids to navigation.”

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Union of BC Municipalities have passed motions that call upon “The Prime Minister to cease all efforts to de-staff light stations and instead commit to maintaining light station staffing levels...to ensure the safety of the working and traveling public and the vibrancy of the growing coastal economy.”

Many private organizations, clubs, labour unions and individuals have also expressed a desire to retain staffed lightstations. We have not included submissions to the Committee that have been copied to us as the Committee is aware of them.

Keeping Lightkeepers on the Lights:
Given public concerns about environmental protection, navigational safety and the need for coastal watches in sensitive areas of high risk, the Canadian Lightkeepers Association urges the Committee to recommend to Minister Shea that current staffed lightstations be retained.

We also ask the Committee to consider a recommendation that a full cost benefit analysis of the full range of lighthouse services be undertaken prior to any further discussion or evaluation of Canada’s lightstations.
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