Simms joins SAR study

Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms has the opportunity to help shape the federal government's investigation into search and rescue (SAR) response times, and hopes it will involve bringing the politicians to 9 Wing Gander.

Mr. Simms became an associate member of the Standing Committee on National Defence last week, taking over for former committee member and fellow Liberal Ujjal Dosanjh.

Last month, the committee began its work looking at Canadian Forces SAR response times, including those for Squadron 103 at 9 Wing Gander.

It was Mr. Simms who went to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff asking to join the committee. Aside from becoming a committee member, Mr. Simms will also be the lead questioner on behalf of the Official Opposition.

"I need to do this search and rescue study, because I'm the only MP in the opposition from a (SAR) base."

Last week, Mr. Simms got the ball rolling on his committee involvement by writing a letter addressed to committee chair Maxime Bernier, a Conservative MP from Quebec, requesting the committee consider visiting 9 Wing Gander as part of its SAR study.

"I think it's a good base to look at. It's very busy - there are things we do at that base that other bases don't do ... I'd like to visit all bases, frankly."

Mr. Simms said a full inquiry would further benefit the issue of SAR response times - one examining the roles played by SAR techs, Cormorant helicopter pilots, employees of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centres, and members of the Canadian Coast Guard.

"A full-on inquiry can do that. Our study will answer a lot of these things, but it won't go as deep as an inquiry."

He also hopes to pose questions to Defence Department staff on the procurement of fixed-wing aircraft. Last week, the person formerly in charge of procurement for the department, Alan Williams, told the Ottawa Citizen the purchase of fixed-wing aircraft should not be further delayed.

The Ottawa Citizen also reported that an air force strategy document showed new SAR planes would not arrive until 2015 at the earliest.

Mr. Simms, along with Gander's town council, has been advocating for a fixed-wing plane based at 9 Wing Gander.

Meetings for the defence committee initially clashed with Mr. Simms' commitment to the heritage committee, which he also sits on. That committee is currently partaking in a digital media study, and will soon be tackling copyright issues.

For now, another MP will replace Mr. Simms on the heritage committee.

St. John's East MP Jack Harris, who also sits on the defence committee, put in the initial request to complete a study examining SAR response times.

The issue has gained heat since the Cougar helicopter crash off the coast of St. John's last March. The crash killed 17 passengers, leaving a lone survivor. An inquiry held in this province has led to recommendations being made to the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board on improving its own response time.

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