Federal minister commits to fishing vessel safety pilot projects in N.L. but not an inquiry

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says meetings withthe parents of a Labrador man lost at sea in 2021 have resulted in a "path forward" on fishing vessel safety but he won't commit to an inquiry on the subject.

Jeanette and Dwight Russell arecalling for a federal commission of inquiry into fishing vessel safety,after their sonMarcand his crewmate Joey Jenkins aboard the Island Lady didn't return to port in Mary's Harbour as plannedin September 2021.

The RCMP called off the search after 10 days, and the men's families have been adamant that the call came too soon and that the search effort was hampered by a lack of co-ordination among governments.

"I've been having a number of meetings with our Canadian Coast Guard and our military, and one of the things that they've always urged is that we need to take the 'search' out of 'search and rescue,'" Blair said.

"Technology is available that is required on larger vessels but it wasn't on their vessel. It was one of the very first things that Jeanette brought up."

Blair said the federal government is committing towork with the community of Mary's Harbour and the Russellson pilot projects thatcould improve marine safety.

Personal location beacons are required on vessels of over 12 metres long. The Island Lady was under that threshold and was not equipped with one.

"The availability of such technologies can enable rescue officials to identify very quickly the location of individuals or even become aware when a vessel is in trouble," said Blair.

"I think it would make a difference. That's what Mrs. Russell explained to us."

Blair said regulations and mandates are only one side of the solution. Making the beacons available and accessible to operators is the other side.

He said the expense should be seen as a small investment in safety.

"We're quite prepared to work with the community and I think the solutions are found through that collaboration when federal, provincial and municipal authorities come together," Blair said.

"But also when the people who are most directly involved, particularly in the fishing industry, I think they need to be at the table, they need to be part of the solution."

But Blair wouldn't go so far as to commit the federal government to an inquiry on fishing vessel safety.

"I think it's incumbent upon us to get to work on those and to talk to each other, to collaborateand work together. I think that's the quickest way to make a difference," he said.

"If it becomes subsequently necessary to draw upon further expertise then we're quite prepared to work with whoever we need to work with to make a difference."

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador