Search centre's closure still riles O'Keefe

St. John's council has unanimously endorsed a motion to send a letter of complaint to Ottawa about the closure of the city's Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre.

"We are being treated in what I feel is a very contemptuous manner," Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said, responding to revelations that a similar centre in Quebec has received another temporary reprieve.

TheSt. John's centre closed last spring, following months of protest that failed to persuade federal politicians.

O'Keefe said the letter will be addressed to both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Labrador MP Peter Penashue, Newfoundland and Labrador's federal cabinet representative.

The letter will urge Penashue to stand up for the province in the federal cabinet and state that the decision is unacceptable.

The Quebec centre was due to close at the same time as the St. John's centre but has been given at least a one-year reprieve. O'Keefe believes this to mean the centre will remain open indefinitely.

He said that this issue isn't being brought up again as a criticism about Quebec.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with the province of Quebec," O'Keefe said. "I congratulate them."

He believes that the centre's closure will have dire consequences.

"There will be some kind of a disastrous occurrencea tragic occurrencethat might very well have been avoided had this sub-centre not been taken away from this province," O'Keefe said.