A well-organized rally on Saturday designed to put pressure on the Federal government to keep the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre open has not swayed Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield. Ashfield said Monday the closure, which will see search and rescue services handled out of Halifax and Ontario, is going ahead as planned. “Look, people have the absolute right — we live in a democracy to demonstrate if they’re not happy with decision. In this case we believe that the right decision has been made,” he said. “We don’t believe for one second that we’re putting the safety of mariners at risk. We would never have made that decision if we thought so.” Ashfield said there is nothing anyone can do to change his mind.
