Government of Canada improves search and rescue through funding for the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

OTTAWA, Oct. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced $725,000 in federal funding to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF). 

The CCGA is a non-profit organization made up of 4,000 volunteers across the country who use their own vessels to respond to search and rescue incidents in Canadian waters.

This investment will support the development and implementation of a new system that will help the CCGA track crews and activities. This system will facilitate the integration to the Search and Rescue Knowledge Management System and, eventually, sharing of data with other partners in the field.

The SAR NIF aims to fund projects that improve and enhance the objectives of the National Search and Rescue Program (NSP).  The Government of Canada dedicates $7.6 million each year to support new and ongoing projects under SAR NIF.

Quotes

"Canadians love to play, work and explore in the great outdoors all across our country. The search and rescue community works tirelessly to keep us all safe if something goes wrong. Through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, the Government of Canada is proud to support more effective and coordinated search and rescue capacity—to provide better tools to help the volunteers and experts who respond to emergencies and work to prevent them before they happen. From updating our national emergency management framework to restoring funding for Heavy Urban Search and Rescue teams across Canada, the federal government is determined to pay greater attention to emergency planning, preparedness and response. I'm confident that today's investment will help keep people safe."

—    The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"I am pleased that the Government of Canada is providing funding under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose national office is located in Gatineau. This project will help ensure an effective and capable search and rescue response by better supporting the development and implementation of a new system to manage resources and training. It will allow the organization in accomplishing its goals".

—    Greg Fergus,  Member of Parliament for Hull—Aylmer

"The modernization of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary SAR Management System will allow us to standardize and improve access to critical operational information, reduce the response time and improve the process of tasking Auxiliary vessels to marine emergencies by the Canadian Rescue Coordination Centers. This improved efficiency will result in saving more lives at risk. "

—    Randy Strandt, National Chair, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

Quick Facts:

• Investments in the SAR NIF will:
• Promote and support projects designed to develop and improve SAR prevention;
• Enhance the effectiveness of the SAR response in federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions; and,
• Share SAR response and prevention best practices throughout the SAR community.
• The Government of Canada funds up to 95 per cent of approved search and rescue projects through the SAR NIF.  Recipients must obtain a minimum of 5 per cent of the total project cost by way of in-kind and/or cash contribution.
• Projects are selected through a merit-based process using objective and measurable criteria.
• The Government of Canada launched the call for proposals on September 18^th, 2017 for the SAR NIF. Proposals will be accepted until November 10, 2017.

Associated Links

• Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund
• Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada