North Island – Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is calling for all weather stations on the North Island to be fixed, following a deadly plane crash last year.
In a media release, Blaney says she has held roundtables with local businesses who are fighting to have the stations adequately maintained and repaired. She adds on the day the fatal plane crash, six weather stations were down.
Blaney adds updates from these stations are critical for people travelling by float plane and boat, and that changes their safety in the region.
According to Therisa Lowe of Sealand Aviation in Campbell River, current malfunctions and lengthy repair times have created dangerous situations with unreliable forecasts.
“A solid maintenance and repair plan for current weather stations along with the installation of additional weather stations would be an investment that would save many lives in the future and bring the North Island up to date with the technology,” said Lowe.
Vince Crooks of Wilderness Seaplanes in Port Hardy is echoing the comments, adding the situation is very dangerous.
A petition has been started calling for the repairs to the equipment, with the hopes of reaching the minister of Environment and Climate Change and the minister of Transport.
