OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - December 16, 2015) - "The community has won," said Christine Collins, National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) upon learning of today's announcement officially re-opening the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station in Vancouver, BC.

The announcement comes almost 3 years after the previous Conservative Government closed the search and rescue station. Re-opening of this station as well as the St. John's Marine Rescue Sub-Centre in Newfoundland were part of the key commitments listed in the Prime Minister's mandate letter to Minister Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

"Of course the devil is in the details as to the level of the staffing complement and the resources that will be dedicated to ensure proper coverage," said Collins. "We hope that the Union is considered amongst the stakeholders consulted to provide advice on how the facility can best respond to the community's needs since our members are the experts who deliver the service."

UCTE looks forward to the restoration of all services that protect the safety of mariners and Canadian waters. 

The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, represents the ships' crew and search & rescue specialists with the Canadian Coast Guard.