Ensuring that the members of the Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to keep Canada’s waterways navigable and safe is a key priority for the Canadian Coast Guard. In support of this priority, the Coast Guard maintains a fleet of icebreakers that operate across Canada, keeping major waterways open to allow for the free movement of people and goods throughout the winter months, ensuring that Canada’s economy remains open and strong.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting mariners and the marine environment on the West Coast, including Indigenous coastal communities and surrounding waters.
The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) station in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut completed its fourth season of providing maritime search and rescue services on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
The Canadian Coast Guard is past the mid-way point of its 2021 Arctic operational season, which runs annually from June to November and ensures safe and efficient movement of vessels in Canada's northern waters.
The safety of Canada’s Arctic waters and those who use them is a top priority for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). As traffic increases in this vast region, so does the demand for essential coast guard services, including search and rescue.
The Canadian Coast Guard advises the public that the seasonal Inshore Rescue Boat stations in Quebec will complete their activities in the coming weeks.
The un-sanctioned Port Huron Float Down is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 15, 2021, on the St. Clair River. This event poses risks to the participants and other users of the waterways during the 7.5 mile /12 km course. In addition to these risks, the Canada/U.S. border remains closed until at least August 21, 2021, due to COVID-19.
Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous coastal communities to improve marine safety. As part of this plan, in 2017 the Canadian Coast Guard launched the Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Pilot Program. This program provides Indigenous communities with funding to purchase boats and equipment to build up their on-water search and rescue capacity. These investments allow Indigenous communities to take concrete steps to strengthen their capacity as part of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The safety of mariners and the protection of the marine environment are top priorities of the Canadian Coast Guard. The Coast Guard’s Aids to Navigation Program helps mariners confirm their positions, stay inside navigable channels and avoid marine hazards.
