The NDP's west coast fisheries critic says perhaps it is time to look at how the Coast Guard is run after deep cuts from Ottawa.

 Fin Donnelly says it might be time to debate how the Coast Guard is run at the top.

  "There have been several discussion over time whether it should be Transport, or its own Ministry, or under DFO so that is a good question I think it is worthy of debate you know across the country whether we should have a seperate ministry for Coast Guard."

 Donnelly was asked if it would be better to have search and rescue experts running the Coast Guard so decisions like closing Kits base wouldn't happen.

  "Absolutely, and I don't know if that is a management structural issue or if that is just plain a political decision that has come down from on high in Ottawa like it or not that is the direction the political masters ie the Conservative government has imposed on the management structures."

 He says at some point the Coast Guard has to have enough resources from Ottawa in order to deliver the service.

 The Coast Guard currently falls under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans which was told to trim its budget by over 6%.