CLOSURE OF SASKATOON WEATHER OFFICE DISTURBING

Released on January 30, 2003

The proposed closure of the Environment Canada office in Saskatoon is disturbing to the Government of Saskatchewan.

In 1997 the weather forecasting section of the Saskatoon office was transferred to the Winnipeg office resulting in the loss of twenty-two Environment Canada employees. The latest proposal would affect the six remaining staff in the Saskatoon office that provide public information and research services.

"The closure of this office would further deteriorate the level of weather services environment Canada provides to the province," Saskatchewan Environment Minister Buckley Belanger said. "This is unacceptable given the incidents of severe weather in our province. All Saskatchewan residents, especially those in rural and remote areas need accurate and timely weather information."

News of the proposal to close the Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg weather offices and consolidate their services in Edmonton was leaked in early January and the decision on the closures has been delayed since then.

"It's almost unbelievable that at the same time the federal government is ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change that they would be cutting back on essential weather services in a province they predict will be severely affected by climate change," Belanger said. "Environment Canada should be expanding it operations in Saskatchewan to improve its research capability and to restore its forecasting capability especially in regards to severe weather events."

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Rick Bates Environment Regina Phone: 787-0114 Email: rbates@serm.gov.sk.ca