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The mandate for public safety in national parks and national historic
sites, including historic canals is established in the Canada
National Parks Act (CNPA) and the Parks Canada Agency Act (PCAA).
Section 8(1) of the CNPA states that "The minister is responsible
for administration, management and control of national parks and
national historic sites, including historic canals (Section 42(3)."
The Act respecting the national marine conservation areas
of Canada, defines the Minister's responsibility for the management
and control of marine conservation areas.
Parks Canada's Public Safety Management Directive (Interim Bulletin
4.4.3) states that Parks Canada will provide land and marine search
and rescue services in the national parks to minimize the number
of fatalities and the extent of injuries and human suffering of
people who are lost and/or in distress. Public Safety Directive
Bulletin 3.1.3 requires that all historic sites, including historic
canals, develop and implement risk management programs for the safety
of visitors.
Management
Planning
The Visitor Risk Management (VRM) framework identifies and assesses
visitor related risks at national parks, national historic sites
and canals. The steps consist of establishing a VRM program, assessing
visitor risks, organizing risk issues, developing service objectives
and evaluating issues, establishing action plans for risk control,
preparing public safety plans, and implementing, evaluating and
updating plans. Public safety operational plans would also address
legal, policy, contractual obligations, and disaster planning.
Policy
Parks Canada is responsible for developing national public safety
policy and performance indicators for heritage protected areas managed
by the Parks Canada Agency.
Coordination
Parks Canada will cooperate with other search and rescue agencies
to provide improved levels of search and rescue service in national
parks and on lands and marine areas adjacent to parks.
Operations
Provides SAR services for incidents on land or in the waters of
heritage- protected areas managed by the Parks Canada Agency.
Prevention
Prevention is a key element in public safety. Parks Canada places
a high priority on providing comprehensive prevention programs to
minimize the potential for occurrences. These directives state that
Parks Canada will provide visitors with the information they need
to protect themselves, and offer advice and warnings to protected
heritage area users.
Prevention programs and activities consist of
1. designing and implementing a Visitor Risk Management Framework;
2. developing the necessary training; and
3. researching and promoting prevention.
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