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ModProp Archive  —  Towards an Interim Maritime Security Force

Maritime Command has said repeatedly that the Canadian Navy should not be “reduced to a constabulary role”. This begs the question: who exactly is securing Canada’s coasts and territorial waters? It has been suggested that the Canadian Coast Guard should be responsible for this role.  After all, the US Coast Guard plays a major role in US maritime defence – especially after the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. There are, however, important distinctions to be made between the United States and Canadian Coast Guards. The USCG is a well-funded, well-equipped military force. The much smaller CCG, by contrast, is a completely unarmed, civilian agency.

Is it realistic to expect an understaffed and over-stretched CCG to secure our coasts? With a few changes, it may just be feasible. It is important that the CCG’s current roles not be compromised  –  maritime enforcement and search-and- rescue are essential missions.  To become a true maritime security force, the CCG will need a new mandate matched with new funding. It will also need to expand beyond its present organization. At the moment, the CCG has 2 tiers: The Regulars, full-time civilian employees,  and the Auxiliary, dedicated local volunteers.

How to bring about this new Interim Maritime Security Force? What’s required is a third, militarized tier to the CCG. Such a third tier could be formed primarily from among the ranks of the Naval Reserves using the 12 MCDVs [1] as its initial equipment. Such a ‘fusion’ would form a real maritime security force, one that could become a fourth element within the CF, with well-defined military and constabulary roles. The original two tiers of the CCG  (which have their own distinct institutional cultures) would remain intact and continue to perform their existing missions. If extra personnel were required for the CCG’s militarized third tier in the early stages of this interim maritime force, experienced Regular Navy personnel could be seconded. The third tier could be administered by DND and/or PSEPC. [2]  Funding for this new CF element could, at least initially, come from the Navy’s portion of the Defence budget.

Also see:  MCDVs for an Interim Maritime Security Force?  and  CASR’s  In Detail  feature on Offshore Patrol Vessels

[1]  The Naval Reserves are justifiably proud that the Kingston class MCDVs are primarily manned by reservists  –  generally only two of the 31-to-37 MCDV crew members are regular Navy (Naval Reservists have even commanded MCDVs). One difficulty with recruiting (and retaining) reservists is that Canada – in stark contrast with the United States – has no legislation protecting the jobs of serving reservists. [2]  Here the model could be the US Coast Guard which, although a military organization, is administered by the Department of Homeland Security.  A Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense makes clear the chain of command in any military situtation. The Canadian Coast Guard already answers to multiple masters – DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) or Transport Canada among others, depending upon the role being carried out – so, making the proposed militarized third tier of the CCG reponsible to both DND and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada is not that strange nor, if it were well-structured, would it be excessively bureaucratic.