(Chapter 7—Federal Search and Rescue Activities—Spring 2013 Report of the Auditor General)
Ottawa, 30 April 2013—The Canadian Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard adequately respond to air and marine search and rescue (SAR) incidents, but maintaining readiness requires significant improvements, says the Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, in his Spring report tabled today in Parliament. In Canada, air and marine search and rescue are federal responsibilities that are managed primarily by the Royal Canadian Air Force for air incidents and the Canadian Coast Guard for marine incidents.
“The Air Force and the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to incidents has been a testament to the dedication of search and rescue crews,” said Mr. Ferguson. “We are very concerned about the sustainability of search and rescue services in coming years.”
Auditors noted significant challenges relating to personnel, equipment and information management. The sustainability of SAR operations is impacted by ongoing personnel shortages within the Air Force and recruiting challenges for the Coast Guard, along with training difficulties within both organizations.
In addition, whereas the Coast Guard has replaced a number of its SAR vessels and has a schedule for their regular maintenance, the Air Force’s continued use of older airplanes that require extensive maintenance and of helicopters that are either insufficient in number or less capable of responding to incidents has affected SAR activities. In addition, the information management system used to manage search and rescue cases is nearing its breaking point. A replacement system is not expected until 2015–16.
While roles and responsibilities are clear at the operational level for the Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard, the audit found that there is no overall federal policy, planning framework or clear statement of expectations for federal SAR services. Long-standing efforts to establish a federal policy and governance framework leading to a national SAR program have been unsuccessful.
“Moving forward, federal partners need to work with each other and with the provinces and territories to better coordinate search and rescue services at the national level,” said Mr. Ferguson. “At the federal level, they need to address challenges regarding equipment, personnel, and information management system.”
- 30 -
