WHEREAS highway rescue is an important service that is performed by fire rescue departments to respond to accidents both within and outside municipal boundaries twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; AND WHEREAS equipment needed to respond to highway rescue operations on the provincial highway system is utilized to serve all public travelling in British Columbia; AND WHEREAS the cost of manpower and equipment to provide this service is borne by municipal taxpayers to enable response to accidents on surrounding provincial highways: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government for increased financial support for highway rescue equipment and remuneration andor wages for fire rescue members while outside their fire protection boundaries to provide highway rescue service.
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOLICITOR GENERAL Highway rescue equipment including jaws of life etc. is eligible under Joint Emergency Preparedness Program JEPP funding. Road rescue is one of the five Public Safety Lifeline volunteer programs supported and funded by the province through the Provincial Emergency Program. The ministry will reinitiate discussions with ICBC for the provision of financial support for a formal road rescue advisory structure, standards development and training programs. The province supports the development of mutual aid agreements to facilitate out of fire protection boundary fire suppression and road rescue services.