Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Liberal party leader Stephane Dion's whirlwind visit to the North brought a whirlwind of promises with it, one which is earning some derision from critics.

During a stopover in Cambridge Bay, Dion promised that, if his party is elected to power, he would station four search and rescue planes in the North; two in Yellowknife and two in Iqaluit.

"Northerners should not have any less protection than anyone else," said Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, who serves as the Liberals' critic for the North.

He said search planes are vital to the North, as rough weather and long distances can hamper conventional searches. In the present system, aerial search and rescue teams are dispatched from Trenton, Ont., and Winnipeg in an emergency.

"Planes North of 60 give us hours and hours of head start," he said.

He said the planes would be a more effective way to deal with sovereignty in the North than Harper's plan to build two Northern patrol ships, which he derided as "slush-breakers" for their limited ice-breaking capabilities.

"Our emphasis is to deal with the people," said Bagnell. "They are the ones that provide sovereignty in the North."

The Liberals' main critics in the North, however, were less than impressed.

"I think it's about time the Liberals woke up to the fact the North is important," said Western Arctic Conservative candidate Brendan Bell, though he applauded the "interest."

"I think people are skeptical that the Liberals are serious about the North after 13 years of ignoring it."

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, the NDP's Northern critic, put out a press release saying the move was "not enough."

"Like most Liberal proposals for the North, it comes up short," Bevington stated in the release.

He said 24-hour coverage of the North would require two Hercules aircraft and about 100 personnel.

"The NDP's approach is different; we consult with Northerners first, before making announcements about how to protect our North."