2024 is on its way out, and our campaign has had an impact so far. Working with lighthouse keepers, parliamentarians, hikers, the Huu-ay-aht nation and other supporters, we succeeded in raising awareness and getting public support to keep lighthouses staffed.
Unfortunately, we could not convince Coast Guard or the Minister to reverse this decision, and the stations at Carmanah Point and Pachena Point have now been destaffed.
With our collective strength and with public support we have stopped destaffing efforts in the past and despite this setback we will be successful again.
We will continue to monitor and resist any moves to destaff lighthouses. Our union will not stand for the CCG bypassing Health and Safety committees and Union-Management Consultation. As some of our members have urged, we will not allow “demolition by neglect” of heritage properties. Our members’ safety is our top priority, and we will push for mitigating risks and maintaining properties rather than killing jobs.
We will also continue to challenge the CCG claims that these destaffed light stations will be fully automated. That is simply not the case. We also know that the role of a lighthouse keeper is so much more than keeping a light on, and the public relies on services like their weather reports, their eyes on the coast, and their assistance in emergencies for hikers, mariners, and harvesters.
Safety, security, and sovereignty – these are the things that lighthouse keepers provide, and they are as important now as ever. Our goal remains: to keep stations staffed and protect public safety.
If you have suggestions or comments to make please let your Regional Vice-President know. Thank you for your efforts to date.