Backgrounders

Monday, October 01, 2001

CANADA'S PACIFIC NAVAL FLEET SERVES BRITISH COLUMBIA

INTRODUCTION

British Columbia's economy and standard of living are directly linked to our involvement in the world market place, the free movement of shipping and the sustainable exploitation of ocean resources. What happens on the ocean, anywhere in the world, is important for residents of British Columbia. The ocean is a major factor affecting the provinces economic well being. Goods and services moved from British Columbia to Asian countries is exceeded only by trade with the United States. The sea-lanes of transportation to our trading partners across the Pacific Ocean are the shortest from the Port of Vancouver. Vancouver is Canada's busiest seaport and the second busiest in North America. Additionally, the fishing industry and recreational boating are major sectors of the province's economy. Canada has a Navy because our country is a maritime nation.

British Columbia accounts for 27,000 kilometres of the world's longest national coastline. Monitoring the activity in our national waters is a primary role of the modern Canadian Navy, in addition to ensuring national security and sovereignty at sea and supporting foreign policy and overseas trade.

NATIONAL SECURITY

At the moment, threats to national security are largely non-military in nature. We are more concerned about people illegally using our waters or abusing them environmentally than any military challenge. But, that does not mean we should not be concerned about potential military threats. Regional instability, international terrorism, weapons proliferation, failed and rogue states, along with the more unconventional threats to security such as the illicit drug and arms trades, and mass migration, are all factors that can lead to armed conflict. In fact, the Canadian Navy has been extremely busy in recent years deployed overseas in support of Canada's international security interests in concert with our allies and in support of our treaty arrangements. National interests are frequently served by direct involvement in crisis management and by general engagement in world affairs.

WEST COAST SECURITY

To be sovereign at sea, a nation must be able to control whatever takes place in the waters under its jurisdiction. National authority diminishes as you move from the 12-nautical mile territorial limit through the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and over the continental shelf, but the requirement to know about and control the marine activity in our adjacent waters is vital. To be able to control what goes on in our coastal waters requires three precise capabilities:

§ to know exactly who is using our waters by collecting and collating surveillance information on the number of vessels, their ownership and registration, ports of call, and cargoes;
§ to maintain a clear expression of government authority in our coastal waters through patrols, visible presence and investigation; and
§ to be able to respond appropriately to any violation of national or provincial law, or threat to national security.

The Canadian Navy is a national resource with surface ships, submarines and aircraft serving Canadians daily. National law enforcement, Immigration, Customs, Environment, Heritage and Fisheries authorities regularly embark in Canadian Navy sips because of their ability to provide covert surveillance over a large area and their ability to remain at sea for lengthy periods. This proved effective during the summer of 1999 when the combined efforts of the Navy, RCMP and Immigration Canada were successful in intercepting migrant vessels destined for B.C The public also participates in the surveillance mission. Citizens can report suspicious activity through the RCMP's 24-hour Coastal Watch Hotline at 1-888-855-6655 located in the Navy's Maritime Operations Centre in Victoria.

The Pacific EEZ measures about 460,000 square kilometres. Keeping this under surveillance with an adequate patrol and response capacity provides work enough for a squadron of five aircraft, a submarine, and a surface task group. However, maintaining full control is prohibitively expensive. The solution is to maintain a balanced force with sufficient capability to carry out surveillance, and provide a timely response to any incident as it develops. Ultimately government must balance naval equipment requirements with the ability to fund them.

CANADIAN FLEET PACIFIC

To carry out the mission established by parliament the Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet has eight major ships; five Halifax-class frigates, two Iroquois-class air defence destroyers, replenishment ship, and six Kingston-class coastal defence vessels. A Canadian Navy task group, comprised of the replenishment ship and any number of frigates and destroyers, is available to undertake open ocean missions, and the six coastal defence vessels provide coastal patrol and assistance to national law enforcement. HMCS VICTORIA, one of Canada's new submarines, will join the Navy's Pacific Fleet in 2002.

SUPPORTING CANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND OVERSEAS TRADE

Naval forces can undertake many tasks in support of national foreign policy, including:

§ A wide range of activities under the broad mantle of crisis management, including providing humanitarian aid, monitoring and observation, preventive deployment, enforcing sanctions, peacekeeping, and intervention;
§ building confidence between former adversaries through multinational exercises, training, and developmental contact; and
§ Traditional diplomatic visits to other countries to promote trade or to further good relation

A commitment of naval forces to an uncertain situation can be made without incurring unduly high physical or political risk. Naval forces are self-sustained for several months at sea and warships have the mobility to remove themselves from a deteriorating situation. As well, they possess the self-protection systems to continue a mission and survive. A naval vessel is a symbol of a country's concern and commitment to resolving a crisis that can be dispatched or recalled very quickly. A navy ship is also an instrument of foreign policy and its deck plates are Canadian "turf" from which trade and commerce can be initiated.

PUBLIC SAFETY

British Columbians not only rely on the ocean for their livelihood, thousands of them operate recreation vessels for boating and sailing pleasure and sport fishing. The Victoria Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) keeps watch 24 hours a day and is ready to respond to any marine emergency anywhere along the Pacific Coast. With the ability to call on military and Coast Guard rescue aircraft and vessels from the Aleutian Islands to Puget Sound, the RCC responds to nearly 3,000 calls for help every year. On average, these operations save about 600 lives each year. The RCC can be reached by telephone at 1-800-561-5111, or cellular *311, or by calling any Marine Communications Traffic Services Station on VHF channel 16.
Another aspect of the Navy's involvement in public safety is the Fleet Diving Unit's (FDU) support to civilian emergency agencies. FDU (Pacific) also maintains explosive ordnance capability to deal military munitions and to assist police forces in extrodinary situations. The divers are available to provide underwater rescue and recovery. The unit has a hyperbaric chamber to treat divers suffering from life threatening conditions often created by diving emergencies.

The Canadian Forces play a key role in responding to natural and man-made disasters. Navy personnel and equipment are available to make an immediate and effective contribution to disaster relief in response to requests from civilian authorities.

MARITIME AIR COMPONENT

Men and women of the Air Force are integral to the Navy mission through the Maritime Air Component. Sea King helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Pat Bay provide helicopter detachments for the Navy's major ships. These aircraft are also available for search and rescue, specific and general patrol duties. CP-140 Aurora long range patrol aircraft from 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron at Canadian Forces Base Comox can cover 300,000 square nautical kilometres of ocean in a 10-to-14-hour mission. Aurora aircraft help to enforce the international ban on illegal drift-net fishing in the North Pacific Ocean. Canadian military aircraft monitor ship movements, and photograph suspicious vessels for evidence of illegal fishing practices. The aircraft also track and photograph suspected polluters and smugglers to support national law enforcement.

PEOPLE, ECONOMICS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters, the Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, B.C. comprise a workforce of approximately 4,000 military and 2,000 civilians. Up to an additional 2,000 service members (regular and reserve) come to Victoria each year to train or conduct other business. The combined military and civilian payroll reaches $170-million a year and the total economic impact is about $330 million annually. The Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges at Nanoose Bay, north of Nanaimo, has an international staff of about 71 civilian scientists and military personnel. The base injects about $6 to 8 million into the mid-island economy each year. The facility provides non-explosive technical tests of torpedoes, sonar, sonobouys and other underwater sensors. Because of the lack of human activity in the bay, the area is home to many marine and bird species. The range’s vessels are available to support local mariners and provide safety patrols and participate in community projects such as the annual Nanaimo Bathtub Race.

The men and women of the Canadian Forces and their 1,400 families are also personally active in their communities. Sailors, soldiers, and air crew support youth programs, charitable causes, and work along with their neighbours to build better communities. Personnel donate nearly $200,000 each year to the United Way of Greater Victoria.

NAVAL RESERVE

Two of the Canadian Navy's 24 naval reserve divisions are located in British Columbia. HMCS DISCOVERY is in Vancouver and HMCS MALAHAT is in Victoria. The citizen sailors who voluntarily share their time between civilian occupations or post-secondary studies and the naval reserve are a vital part of Canada's maritime defence. Naval reserve units provide crews for the coastal defence vessels, form harbour defence teams, port inspection diving units, and are trained to undertake the naval control of merchant shipping in times of crisis.

THE NADEN BAND OF MARITIME FORCES PACIFIC

The Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific travels the province to bring professional military music and contemporary musical entertainment to communities large and small. The 35 professional musicians can also provide coaching to young musicians. The Canadian Navy and its components provide ceremonial support to official functions such as military ceremony, changes of command, opening of the Legislature, Remembrance Day, and participate in community events throughout the year such as the Victoria Day Parade and the Pacific National Exhibition.

THE CANADIAN CADET ORGANIZATION

In 120 communities across the province, 5,500 youth aged 12 to 18 years are members of Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, and Air Cadets. While these young people are not members of the Canadian Forces, they are a community resource and provide positive energy to the community building process under the leadership of their reserve force military officers. The aim of the cadet movement is to instil in youth the attributes of good citizenship, leadership, physical fitness and an interest in the activities of the Canadian Forces.

HERITAGE AND CEREMONY

British Columbia owes much of its heritage to the navies of Spain and England. The Pacific coast is dotted with names of early Spanish explorers like Cordova, Galiano, and Quadra. Captain Vancouver of the Royal Navy named Spanish Banks when he met two Spanish ships at anchor off the mainland. In addition to the many coves and waterways named for the Spanish and English sailors, city street names perpetuate the courageous sailors who sailed to the new world over 150 years ago. Portions of Esquimalt Harbour, HMC Dockyard, and Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt are national historic sites. Guided tours for groups and individual walking tours are available. The Base Museum attracts thousands of visitors each year.

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Last Updated: 10/1/2001		Important Notices