Federal government to beef up B.C. coast guard station

OTTAWA (AP) The federal government is beefing up a coast guard station in British Columbia in response to a fishing boat tragedy last summer.

The Canadian Coast Guard's Sea Island station, which currently relies on volunteer divers, will soon have full-time dive teams available 24 hours a day to deal with rescues.

Five people, including two children, drowned last August when the Cap Rouge II capsized at the mouth of the Fraser River off Richmond, British Columbia.

Volunteer divers had to wait more than 40 minutes for a backup dive team to arrive before the overturned boat could be entered. That's because they were restricted from entering submerged vessels.

The new divers will be allowed to make such high-risk dives.

Federal Fisheries Minister Robert Thibault announced the changes Thursday, saying the tragedy forced Ottawa to review its rescue diving regulations and capabilities.

The union that represents coast guard workers criticized the government for waiting so long to make the changes.

``There's no excuse why we should have waited six months for this announcement,'' said Michael Wing, head of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees.

``This is the only announcement of any substance made by this minister and reflects the tombstone mentality that pervades this department no action without the loss of life.''

Wing also questioned why the expanded service was only happening on Canada's west coast.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)