National Search and Rescue Program

The National Search and Rescue Program (NSP) is the name given by the Government of Canada to the collective search and rescue (SAR) activities in Canada. Until 2015, the NSP was administered by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS).
Although the NSP is neither defined nor operated as a formal program of the Government of Canada, the primary goal of the NSP is understood to be saving lives at risk by providing response and prevention services throughout Canada's Search and Rescue Region of Responsibility (SRR). This area includes all of Canada's land mass as well as areas of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans as designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). By this definition, the NSP encompasses federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and volunteers working together to provide search and rescue in Canada.
Organizational structure.
The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) was established in 1986 as a national coordinating authority for SAR policy in Canada, as one of the key recommendations resulting from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the "Ocean Ranger" disaster. The NSS operated for almost thirty years as an independent portfolio organization within the Department of National Defence, reporting directly to the Minister of National Defence. During this time, the Minister of National Defence was the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR) in the Government of Canada.
The NSS operated out of 275 Slater Street in Ottawa, providing dedicated communications services to the National SAR Program including a quarterly magazine, SARscene and annual conference; facilitating federal, provincial/territorial, and regional SAR program coordinating committees; administering the SAR New Initiatives fund, a contribution program aimed at enhancing the practice of search and rescue in Canada; leading Canada's participation in the international satellite system for search and rescue, COSPAS-SARSAT; and delivering programs aimed at promoting safety and preparedness. The NSS also enabled formal recognition of outstanding contributions of the national search and rescue community through the annual National SAR Program Awards of Excellence
In July 2015, the Secretariat was absorbed into the Emergency Management and Programs branch of Public Safety Canada. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness assumed responsibility for the National SAR Program, although it is not known if the title and associated responsibilities of 'Lead Minister for Search and Rescue' were also formally carried forward.
Delivery of SAR services in Canada.
The delivery of search and rescue services in Canada continues to be partitioned according to the geographic, functional, and government jurisdiction in which a person happens to find themselves in distress, as described below:
Aviation and Marine Search and Rescue.
The Department of National Defence is the lead federal department responsible for providing and coordinating SAR response for incidents involving aircraft. This is accomplished through the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which provides personnel (air controllers) for the three Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCCs) as well as various dedicated SAR squadrons of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is tasked with responding to emergencies involving vessels that occur in waters of federal responsibility; this includes all navigable ocean waters on Canada's Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts, plus the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and portions of connecting waterways. This is accomplished through the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), which provides personnel (marine controllers) for the three JRCCs, as well as various dedicated SAR vessels for inshore, near shore and off shore operations.
The three JRCCs are:
The Department of Transport, through its civil aviation and marine safety programs, plays a supporting role to the NSP by working to prevent air and marine transport incidents requiring a search and rescue response. This is accomplished through policies relating to regulations, inspections, enforcement, and safety promotion functions.
Federal air resources.
Air resources for responding to search and rescue incidents in Canada are coordinated by, and often supplied by, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Due to their rapid response, air resources are often the first equipment tasked to respond in remote inland, coastal or offshore locations, regardless of whether it is for an aircraft or marine incident.
Federal marine resources.
Marine resources for responding to federal search and rescue incidents in Canada are coordinated by, and often supplied by, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Marine resources are most often tasked to respond to a marine incident in waters of federal jurisdiction, however, they can also be tasked to respond to incidents involving an aircraft if that should also occur in waters of federal jurisdiction.
Ground and Inland Water Search and Rescue.
National Parks.
Within Canada's national parks, a federal jurisdiction, SAR resources and operations are supplied and coordinated by Parks Canada. This also includes national marine conservation areas, national park reserves, national historic sites, and national historic canals. In larger national parks that see a high degree of visitor usage, or have unique dangers for park visitors (e.g. ocean waters, mountains, back country, etc.), Parks Canada supplies its own dedicated SAR resources in the form of specialized staff and equipment. Parks Canada may also request support from other federal resources, including the RCAF, CCG, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as well as provincial/territorial or municipal resources, depending on the location of the incident.
Provinces and Territories.
In areas of provincial or territorial jurisdiction (e.g. on land or in inland lakes and rivers that are non-federal waters), SAR resources are coordinated by provincial or territorial governments. Response to, and the coordination and supply of resources to, a ground or inland water SAR incident in a province or territory is the responsibility of the provincial or territorial police agency (or a municipal police agency). That police agency, in coordination with the provincial or territorial (or municipal) government, may request federal resources to assist in responding to a ground or inland water SAR incident. This is often in the form of RCAF or CASARA aircraft and occasionally in the form of CCG or CCGA vessels (usually trailer deployed small craft). In the more remote parts of Canada, the Canadian Rangers may be requested to perform search and rescue missions in support of federal and provincial/territorial cases. These requests are coordinated through inter-government agreements.
Commercial air operators, in particular those operating helicopters, are also frequently called upon to assist provincial and territorial authorities with ground and inland water search and rescue missions. Many are certified to Transport Canada standards in the use of Helicopter Flight Rescue Systems (HFRS) or Helicopter External Transport Systems (HETS), and train routinely with the volunteer and Parks Canada specialists who conduct these types of rescue missions.
All provinces and territories have volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) organizations that are available to assist the responding police agency by providing trained searchers, equipment, and local knowledge. Some volunteer teams have advanced capabilities in search management and high-angle, swift water, ice, and/or avalanche rescue. Canine teams specialized in search and rescue are also an important component of the GSAR volunteer community. The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) is the national body representing ground and inland water SAR volunteers in Canada.
In Alberta, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Office of the Fire Commissioner. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Alberta and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province; however, this responsibility may be delegated to other agencies, namely Kanaskis Country Public Safety section of Alberta Environment and Parks. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the SAR Association of Alberta.
In British Columbia, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is Emergency Management BC. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in British Columbia and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the BC Search and Rescue Association.
In Manitoba, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Manitoba and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by Search and Rescue Manitoba.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador. Policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador are shared between the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) in urban areas and the RCMP in rural areas. These police agencies are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association.
In New Brunswick, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in New Brunswick and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the New Brunswick Ground Search and Rescue Association.
In the Northwest Territories, the territorial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Northwest Territories Emergency Measures Organization. The RCMP is contracted to provide policing services in the Northwest Territories and are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the territory. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Northwest Territories Search and Rescue Association.
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Nova Scotia and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association.
In Nunavut, the territorial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is Nunavut Emergency Management. The RCMP is contracted to provide policing services in Nunavut and are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the territory. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Nunavut Search and Rescue Association.
In Ontario, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is Emergency Management Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) provides all provincial policing services in Ontario and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association.
In Prince Edward Island, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Prince Edward Island Emergency Measures Organization. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Prince Edward Island and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Prince Edward Island Ground Search and Rescue Association.
In Quebec, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Ministère de la Sécurité publique. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) provides all provincial policing services in Quebec and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Association québécoise des bénévoles en recherche et sauvetage.
In Saskatchewan, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Saskatchewan Emergency Management Organization. The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Saskatchewan and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers.
In Yukon, the territorial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization. The RCMP is contracted to provide policing services in Yukon and are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the territory. Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Yukon Search and Rescue Association.