Not expanding N.L. SAR capabilities: defence minister

The minister of national defense has flatly denied a request from Gander to improve search and rescue response times from the central Newfoundland town's military base.

Three Canadian military search and rescue helicopters are based in Gander.

Gander town officials wrote Defense Minister Peter MacKay last fall, concerned that the federal government might spend money developing a search and rescue base in St. John's.

They argued that the government should improve coverage out of Gander - if it intended to spend more money on military search and rescue services.

But, in a written response to from MacKay in March, the answer to the town's request is clearly "no."

MacKay quotes a military study that shows having crews in the hangar at night and on the weekends would improve response effectiveness only marginally and at a significant increase in cost.

Gander Deputy Mayor Zane Tucker said it's disappointing.

"People say accidents happen outside of business hours which is a very valid point but I guess what the minister is saying is: 'In a perfect world, yes, you would have [search and rescue] around the clock but the federal government does have budget constraints it has to work within'," he said.

As for whether the military plans to move search and rescue resources from Gander to St. John's, MacKay said military studies support maintaining the status quo.