Calls for increased search and rescue resources for Gander BY ANDREW ROBINSON The Beacon

SMILING ON GANDER - Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, right, shares a word with Gerry Byrne, MP for Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, before delivering a speech at the provincial Liberal's annual general meeting on May 23. Liberals from across the province gathered at Hotel Gander May 22-23 to elect the party's executive and strategize on rebuilding the Liberals in Newfoundland and Labrador.Andrew Robinson/The Beacon

Federal Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff whipped his audience into a frenzy at the provincial Liberal's annual general meeting, held last weekend in Hotel Gander.

Mr. Ignatieff gave the weekend's keynote speech to 300 Liberal supporters during a banquet dinner on May 23. He spent much of his speech focusing on the momentum gained by his party since last fall's federal election, which saw the Liberals drop from 103 seats to 77 in Ottawa.

"We have shrunk, let's be honest with ourselves. We have got to grow and build our party," he said.

Since taking over the party's leadership in December 2008, the Liberal's national fortunes have changed dramatically. An EKOS poll from last month asking respondents what party they would support if an election were held today had 36.7 per cent choosing the Liberals, with 30.2 per cent opting for the governing Conservatives.

In his speech at Hotel Gander, Mr. Ignatieff took on a local issue by bringing up public concerns about search-and-rescue (SAR) services in light of the Cougar helicopter crash in March that killed 17 passengers.

"All of us saw a country come together around something we didn't want to come together around - the shared experience of grief. We need to make search-and-rescue part of a national defence procurement strategy. We need to give the heroes of the