Vancouver's Kitsilano coast guard base to reopen 'as soon as possible'

The Kitsilano coast guard station in Vancouver is scheduled to reopen "as soon as possible," according to Fisheries and Coast Guard Minister Hunter Tootoo.

Tootoo made the announcement outside the closed station on the shores of English Bay in Vancouver, following through on a Liberal campaign promise.

"I am happy to report that preliminarywork to restore this site will begin shortly," said Tootoo."It's about enhancing our ability to respond to marine emergencies."

The Kitsilano station wasclosedby theConservative governmentin2013amid loud opposition from local politicians and citizens.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson called today's announcement great news.

"There was massive local outcry about the closure, given that we saw this base responding to over 300 calls each year," he said.

"It was a mistake that it was closed at all," said B.C. Premier Christy Clark. "So many people use this harbour, not just commercial shipping, so many citizens."

Robertson saidthe Kitsilano closure "made things worse" this past summer when close to 3,000 litres ofbunker fuel leakedfrom the MVMarathassainto English Bay, soiling local beaches and sparking a two-week cleanup.

The oil spill happened a kilometre away from the closed Kitsilano station. Coast guard response from the nearest open base in Richmond was criticized as slow.

Critics also believed the Kitsilano closure put mariners in busy English Bay and BurrardInletat increased risk because of thelonger emergency response time.