Levels of service review - 2007
Search and Rescue

Follow-up

• Implement a system which will respond and follow-up on complaints filed by pilots concerning recreational boaters on the main shipping channel.
  

  Actions taken :
  
  

• This issue was entrusted to Transport Canada at the last Regional Recreational Boating Advisory Council (RRBAC) meeting, held on March 13, 2008.

• Improve the SAR partnership with Newfoundland Region on Lower North-Shore.

• add a primary response unit, preferably in La Tabatière.
  

  Actions taken :

• Recommendations in this regard were made in order to improve the SAR response capacity, subsequent to an analysis conducted in 2007.

• Improve the partnership between Gaspesie and Maritime Region, in order to enhance the SAR coverage in the Estuary, during spring and fall.

• Arrange for the CCG rescue cutter to meet fishers who render assistance to a ship in difficulty, at the outer limit of its SAR area, so they will not have to go to Rivière-au-Renard.

  Actions taken :
  
  

• Some of these concerns were taken into account in the SAR needs analysis conducted in 2007. The CCG will evaluate the proposal concerning assistance to ships in difficulty.

• Implement a supplementary SAR unit in the area of Étang-du-Nord, Iles-de-la-Madeleine to ensure a safer level of service in the Gulf, particularly on the North side of the island during adverse weather conditions.

  Actions taken :
  
  

• Recommendations were made to improve SAR response capacity, following the SAR analysis conducted in 2007.

• Establish efficient communication protocols between CCG, Sûreté du Québec and municipal police and fire departments.

• Resolve the confusion concerning the responsibilities of stakeholders responding to incidents, particularly at the mouth of tributaries like the St-Maurice River.

  Actions taken :
  
  

• In April 2008, a SAR exercise was conducted with the community of SAR stakeholders, including the shoreline municipalities, and made it possible to better define each stakeholder's respective role and responsibilities.
• The CCG continues to hold meetings to enhance awareness among the different responders, for example, through the meetings of the SAR consultative committee.

• Facilitate small craft owner training because many of them do not have their boater's card and cannot take marine safety training on the Internet because they are not familiar with this media.
  

  Actions taken :
  
  

• Transport Canada is currently handling this issue.

• Plan specific SAR training for responding to incidents involving canoes and kayaks and conduct practical exercises with rescuers.
  

  Actions taken :
  
  

• The CCG sits on the Regional Recreational Boating Advisory Council (RRBAC) with the Fédération québécoise du canot et du kayak. Consequently, the CCG is able, among other things, to bring to the attention of the Fédération's representative the importance of enhancing awareness among the increasing number of enthusiasts of these sports of the inherent risks.

• Establish, with Transport Canada, means of supporting awareness and prevention activities with boaters, based on long term partnership.

  Actions taken :
  
  

• CCG headquarters consulted with TC headquarters in order to continue to provide prevention activities to the clientele most at risk.

• Consider repatriation of marine safety prevention component to CCG.
  

  Actions taken :
  
  

• CCG headquarters is currently handling this file.

• Make arrangements so that CCG surplus equipment can be transferred to non-profit organizations in the Quebec Region as it is currently done in BC and the Central & Arctic Region.
  

  Actions taken :
  
  

• Transfers can now be made free of charge with the authorization of the appropriate department.