Canadian Coast Guard, Pacific Region work with various advisory groups to determine the impacts that program changes have on the way stakeholders use its services.  Coast Guard solicits feedback to assist in the development of the strategic direction and the applicability and quality of the services that CG Maritime Services provides.

The Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Services Regional Director is responsible for the overall direction of the Local Marine Advisory Councils (LMACS)

The LMACs were established in 1996 to improve the relationship between the Coast Guard and the communities at the local level.  The LMACs are a permanent forum made up of volunteers representing stakeholders in six local geographic areas. Wherever practicable, the councils include recreational boaters, fishers, First Nations, and commercial users in the forum who have a stake in the services provided by CG.  The purpose of the LMAC is to provide a forum where CCG can receive advice and input from stakeholders on relevant local maritime issues concerning the delivery of CG maritime services.  The Council is invited to make recommendations for consideration by Coast Guard management regarding programs and services in their respective local geographic area.

The Assistant Commissioner for the Canadian Coast Guard participates as a CCG advisor to the Western Marine Community
http://www.bcmarine.org/wmc/

The Western Marine Community (WMC) “is a broad based coalition of organizations and individuals who share common perceptions of the essential needs for the well being of maritime activity, commercial or recreational”.  The Mission of the WMC is “to provide a coordinated forum to promote the growth and devel­opment of the Marine Community with regard to socio-economic, safety and other pertinent issues”.  The WMC was established as an ad hoc group in the fall of 1995 in response to Coast Guard’s announcement of the Marine Services Fee and the formation of the MAB.  As a result the WMC administers and collects the fees for the Coast Guard through a not for profit society, the Western Marine Community Association.  (WMC 2003 Annual Report. p.12. Retrieved from:
http://www.bcmarine.org/~bcmarine/wmc/pdf/AnnualReport.pdf). 

The Maritime Services directorate provides information to, and participates actively in the Pacific Coast Marine Review Panel (PACMAR) and Navaids and Navigational Aids sub-committee (NANS)

PACMAR was formed in the summer of 1995 as a sub-committee to the Western Marine Community Coalition.  PACMAR “continues to meet on a monthly basis with representatives from all sectors of Marine Us­ers. In keeping with its mandate PACMAR liaises with Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada and from time-to-time with the US Coast Guard on matters related to Aids to Navigation and Safety of Mariners and the waterways” (WMC 2003 Annual Report. p.9. Retrieved from:
http://www.bcmarine.org/~bcmarine/wmc/pdf/AnnualReport.pdf).

One of the roles of PACMAR is to monitor the quality of services provided by CCG.  In order to effectively address issues in depth, the Navaids and Navigational Aids sub-committee (NANS) is active and meets monthly to review the use and need of floating and fixed navigational aids.

The Maritime Services directorate provides information to, and participates in the following Transport Canada advisory groups:

The Recreational Boating Advisory Council (RBAC) provides Transport Canada with advice on all matters related to the safety of recreational boaters, the safe operation of recreational boats, the safe and environmentally friendly use of recreational waterways and any other issue of interest. 

The Regional Canadian Marine Advisory Council (RCMAC) is a forum for consultation with and information sharing among marine community stakeholders on matters of safety, navigation, and marine pollution.  CMAC is coordinated and chaired by senior members of Transport Canada, Safety and Security.  In the council, membership includes commercial shippers, fishers, recreational boaters, unions, federal departments and other levels of government.  This Committee meets in plenary twice each year and provides input to the national Council. Sub-committees work as required year-round. 

The Regional Advisory Council on Oil Spill Response (RAC) provides a regional forum for those involved in and impacted by marine oil spills and spill response activities.  Recommendations are made on issues related to improving spill response capability within the Pacific Region, in order to safeguard public interest and minimize environmental impacts.