Liberals to reopen Maritime Rescue Sub-centre in St. John's

New federal Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootooandthe Liberal government will reopenthe Maritime Rescue Sub-centre in St. John's.

• Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Mandate Letter

The Nunavut MP signedthe mandate given to him by new Prime Minister Justin Trudeauin a letter nine days after hewas sworn in as the ministerof Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

• Search centre's closure still riles O'Keefe

The sub-centre was closed in 2012 despite loud outcry from advocates and fishermen. Provincial and municipalpoliticians such as St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefehave lobbied since to haveitreopened.

The mandatesays, as minister, Tootoo's"overarching goal will be to protect our three oceans, coasts, waterways and fisheries and ensure that they remain healthy for future generations."

It contains a long list of items, including the promise to"restore funding to support federal ocean science and monitoring programs, to protect the health of fish stocks, to monitor contaminants and pollution in the oceans, and to support responsible and sustainable aquaculture industries on Canada's coasts."

The mandate also says Tootoowill "usescientific evidence and the precautionary principle, and take into account climate change, when making decisions affecting fish stocks and ecosystem management."

TheKitsilano Coast Guard Base in Vancouver will be reopened as well.