A politician from Quebec is calling on the federal government to delay the closing of the St. John's marine rescue sub-centre for the same reason the closure of the sub-centre in his province has been delayed.

The St. John's centre is scheduled to close this month, but the sub-centre in Quebec City will remain open for at least another year.

Philip Toone, the NDP member for the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine , said the reasons for keeping Quebec's centre open apply in Newfoundland and Labrador as well.

"The rescue centre in Trenton, Ontario, doesn’t understand the reality of the Gulf. I don't think they understand the reality of the Grand Banks and yet, they're going to be taking the calls from now on?" said Toone.

"There's a serious lack of regional understanding on the part of the Conservatives and it's really disturbing that they're willing to risk our lives to save a buck."

Toone says the decision to keep Quebec's centre open was based on a potential language barrier — Acadians who fish in the Gulf require search and rescue operators who can understand their dialect.

He believes people in Trenton, Ontario — where distress calls from Newfoundland and Labrador will go — will have similar difficulties understanding some people from Newfoundland and Labrador.