CASR

Defence
Budget & 
Procurement
Practices 

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GoC
Press
Release
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Search and Rescue  –  SAR Funding  –  GoC News Release  –  April 2012 Funding  Search-and-Rescue Prevention & Response:  Lumping rather than splitting ... but still no sign of movement on FWSAR Government  News Releases can be mind-numbing for an average citizen to read, replete as they often are with bureaucratic language and ministerial self- congratulation. This SAR funding press release is no exception. With all the capacities built and  responses strengthened, the absense of content may escape a casual reader. We are told that $8.1M is to be spent on various and sundry projects under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS). But  SAR NIF is hardly new.  SAR NIF  has been running since 1988 and awards funds to SAR-related projects annually. SAR NIF's backgrounder tells us that "projects must address at least one of the five National SAR Priorities".[1] These SAR Priorities differ very slightly from the National Search and Rescue Program (NSP) Strategic Directions. Common to both is Arctic SAR. [2] Not surprising considering that the Government of  Canada has signed the binding Arctic Search and Rescue Treaty. Rather than sporting with our intelligence with contentless News Releases, it'd be nice if Government would simply tell us what their plan is to satisfy  its newly-formalized Arctic SAR obligations. The take-home may be that both GoC and NSS are simply going to wait until a funding application from a local group, academic, or industrial partner solves their self-inflicted Arctic SAR conundrum for them. With the GoC's track record, that may be just as well. Regardless of what the GoC was actually trying to tell us, press releases aren't without purpose. Timing is also critical, so any news released on Sunday raises an eyebrow. Is $8.1M of funding for SAR so insignificant? Or is the MND trying to draw our attention away from a procurement 'elephant in the room'  – the Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Project which has been fumbled several times on its way through Cabinet. Alternatively, the MND may be relishing a pending announcement that he has shoved the  FWSAR Project  through Cabinet somehow. That seems unlikely though, so soon after the recent climb-down over F-35 sole-sourcing.  Once FWSAR is passed Cabinet, taxpayers must  hope that sober thought has triumphed over will. The FWSAR Project was expanded to include submissions from alternate service providers (although DND and the MND can hardly be happy about this). And there's room for further expansion of FWSAR (where the dedicated FWSAR aircraft could be military or civilian-manned). Of course, Peter MacKay may attempt to safeguard his bureaucratic bailiwicks. If that is his course, the MND will lash himself to the RCAF's preferred 'candidate', the Alenia C-27J Spartan. Although that makes little sense on the surface, MacKay might have a powerful ally. According to AgustaWestland rep, Jeremy Tracy, the official resistance to basing SAR aircraft in the Arctic originates with the Prime Minister. If true, Stephen Harper will back his MND on buying Italian. If untrue, perhaps the PMO is the guiding hand  steering FWSAR away from 'sole-sourcing' towards considering bolder options. [1] National SAR Priorities are listed as: support the organization and sustainability of GSAR (or Ground Search-and-Rescue); protect and support volunteers; deliver public education; promote interoperability through common platforms [ primarily referring to radios] and protocols; and, build Local SAR Capacity in the North and Remote Areas. [2] "Build Local SAR Capacity in the North and Remote Areas" in the case of  National SAR Priorities; "Focusing on Northern and Remote SAR" being Strategic Direction #5. Harper Government Announces Funding For SAR Prevention And Response [ Note: this press release was published simultaneously on the DND website.] April 15, 2012 Halifax – 15 April 2012 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of  National Defence and  Lead Minister  for  Search and Rescue, is pleased to announce an  $8.1M  federal investment in search and rescue prevention and response in Canada. "Our government understands the importance of investing in new initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of  search and rescue  in Canada," said Minister MacKay.  "This money will support projects that build search and rescue capacity and strengthens the response of  search and rescue." In 2012-2013, this new funding will allow for the purchase of life-saving equipment and tools; the development of  training standards; collaborative  interoperability exercises between the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard,  Parks Canada, and the over 15,000 specially trained air-ground-marine search and rescue volunteers;  the develop- ment of outreach prevention and awareness programs to targeted audiences like flight safety for private pilots; the building of search and rescue capacity in the marine envi- ronment on the coasts; and the development of  virtual trainers  for the  air and marine search and rescue environments. "Projects funded under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund support the prior- ities of the National Search and Rescue Program" said Ms. Géraldine Underdown, the Executive Director of the [NSS]. "They contribute to building capacity for the National Search and Rescue Program in such areas as search and rescue prevention, response, technology, sustainability, interoperability and the North." Established in 1986, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat  ( NSS )  is responsible for the management and coordination of the National Search and Rescue Program, and works with  all  levels of  government,  police and  emergency services  to manage and improve search and rescue activities  throughout  Canada. The NSS is an autonomous arm's length  organization  within the Department of  National Defence, accountable to the Lead  Minister  for Search and  Rescue,  who is also Minister of  National Defence.