Whereas the current search and rescue director of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness EMCR imposed a moratorium on all of the Provinces search and rescue teams, prohibiting those groups from expanding their capabilities until the Province has conducted a needs assessment study; And whereas Search and Rescue groups provide invaluable services crucial to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, tourist safety, and overall community well-being: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to promptly lift this moratorium and allow Search and Rescue groups to add to their list of capabilities.
Ministry of Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Ground Search and Rescue GSAR volunteers in British Columbia are among the best in the world, and the Province is committed to supporting their invaluable work and dedication to helping keep people safe. The Province continues to provide predictable and ongoing funding of approximately 6 million annually to support the Ground Search and Rescue volunteers provision of service across British Columbiathe only agreement of its kind in Canada. This annual contribution is in addition to approximately 8 million of funding that the Province provides annually to reimburse GSAR groups operational costs for search and rescue deployments, training, and equipment. The Search and Rescue Advisory Committee, and six standing working groups under this Committee, are meeting on a regular basis. The intent of the Search and Rescue Advisory Committee is to provide a forum for collaborating with requesting agencies RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services, etc. and volunteers. The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness believes that the wider Search and Rescue community, as represented by the Search and Rescue Advisory Committee, should have more influence on the process around how groups achieve capabilities, and how these capabilities are maintained. These questions will be addressed by the Search and Rescue Advisory Committee and the applicable working groups, with the intent of finding an appropriate path forward for all parties and lifting the pause on capabilities.