NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM PLAN 2006

Canada's National SAR Program Plan for 2006 provides direction to the six federal organizations participating in the National Search and Rescue Program, as well as guidance to SAR organizations in other jurisdictions. The individual federal departmental and agency SAR roles and responsibilities are described at Annex A to this Plan. Federal organizations delivering search and rescue services are responsible to the government through Ministerial accountability both for their individual activities and for participation in and support of collective program level initiatives. As such, it is expected that in 2006 they will incorporate the applicable program priorities in their respective departmental Report on Plans and Priorities or organizational business plans.

The Plan has been developed cooperatively by staff of the six departments and agencies and is promulgated in accordance with the accountability of the Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue and on the authority of the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue for the federal government.

Note: Many acronyms and abbreviations are used in the interest of brevity. A glossary is included at Annex C.

OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM (NSP)

General

The National Search and Rescue (SAR) Program guides the collective activities of both the federal government in the federally mandated areas of Canada's search and rescue (SAR) system, and the activities of provinces, territories and municipalities having either primary or secondary roles and responsibilities with respect to the provision of SAR services.

Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR)

The Minister of National Defence is the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR) in the federal government and as such responsible for coordination of the National SAR Program and the spokesperson on it.

Participating Federal Organizations

The following federal government organizations (and where indicated, their specific components) participate in the National SAR Program:

• Canadian Forces
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Environment Canada, Meteorological Service of Canada
• Parks Canada Agency
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Transport Canada.

Details of departmental SAR roles and responsibilities are contained at Annex A.

Canadian SAR Area of Responsibility and the Federal Mandate

Figure 1 - Canadian SAR Area of Responsibility

In addition to the entire landmass of Canada, the federal government has accepted, under international agreements and conventions, responsibility for providing aeronautical SAR services over certain portions of the surrounding oceans. The federal maritime (marine) SAR Area of Responsibility includes these same portions of the surrounding oceans and adds the Canadian portions of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes system. The Canadian SAR Area of Responsibility is depicted at Figure 1. In addition, response to marine and ground SAR (GSAR) incidents occurring within National Parks is also within the federal mandate. Response to all other GSAR and inland waters marine SAR incidents falls within the mandate of provincial/territorial authorities.

Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue

The management of the National SAR Program is accomplished through the Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR). The membership of ICSAR includes senior representation from each of the six federal organizations engaged in search and rescue activities, plus observers from Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the Privy Council Office (PCO), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

The ICSAR is chaired by the Executive Director of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (described below) and is accountable to the LMSAR for review, reporting and approval of National SAR Program policies and plans on behalf of its member departments. ICSAR is supported by two Sub-Committees: Review and Coordination, consisting of subject matter experts from the ICSAR member departments.

National Search and Rescue Secretariat

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) is accountable to the LMSAR through ICSAR for the development, coordination, analysis and review of National SAR Program policies, plans and specified National SAR Program components and activities. These components and activities include:

• administration of the SAR New Initiatives Fund (NIF)
• Canadian representation to the COSPAS/SARSAT program
• maintenance of the Canadian Beacon Registry
• publication of SARSCENE magazine
• conduct of an annual SARSCENE Workshop, and
• management of an annual Outstanding SAR Achievement Awards Program.

The NSS also provides leadership in enhancing the coordination between provincial/territorial SAR programs and the National SAR Program as well as providing program level advice and information to the LMSAR.

National SAR Program Vision and Objectives

The National SAR Program focuses on the achievement of a seamless SAR system in Canada via a vision statement and two objectives:

Strategic Directions

The following Strategic Directions, which will guide federal SAR Departments and Agencies from the current to the future business environment, were developed from issues identified in the Environmental Scan. The ICSAR has identified four areas to focus efforts upon over the next five years, in addition to managing ongoing activities.

Seamless SAR
To develop, through improved partnership arrangements, standards that would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of SAR services and promote greater cooperation

Marine SAR
To identify and implement solutions to reduce the number and the severity of incidents

Northern SAR
To review existing services and recommend possible adjustments in the approach to SAR service delivery, given increasing activity in the North

Volunteers
To support volunteer organizations in playing an active and essential role in the National SAR Program.

Program Strategies

At the Program Level, activities to support achievement of the Objectives and realization of the Vision are focused via six 'paths' or Strategies. These are described as follows:

Partnerships
Develop and strengthen partnerships to facilitate and enhance SAR prevention and response activities.

Multi-Jurisdictional Exercises
Participate in a program of multi-jurisdictional exercises with focus on areas of historical problems or future concern, and/or to confirm plans and procedures for SAR response activities.

Volunteers
Involve and maximize as appropriate the use of volunteers.

Technology and Innovation
Encourage the identification and development of best practices, innovation and/or new technologies to support SAR prevention and response activities.

Interoperability
Identify types and characteristics of SAR equipment, training and procedures that should be compatible and/or interoperable.

Data and information
Promote research and development and the collection and free exchange of information and data applicable to SAR prevention and response.