Search and Rescue Committees

Public Safety coordinates the development and maintenance of strategic national policy and programs in cooperation with all partners in an effort to achieve highly effective and economically responsible search and rescue (SAR) services throughout Canada.

Public Safety's National Search and Rescue Secretariat coordinates and participates in multiple committees that enhance the delivery of SAR in Canada. These committees provide SAR partners with the opportunity to contribute different perspectives on the delivery of services. Such insight is needed to continually improve Canada's SAR capability.

Coordinated by Public Safety

Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue

The Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR) is a senior level federal committee consisting of federal departments with SAR responsibilities.

The ICSAR Committee supports and advises the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and other federal ministers with SAR responsibilities on SAR related matters. This committee provides the ministers with advice from a whole-of-government perspective and facilitates collaboration among federal departments. Public Safety chairs this committee.

The committee has multiple working groups including one to identify and assist ICSAR in developing SAR priorities. These priorities are reflected in the SAR New Initiatives Fund annual call for proposals.

Membership includes:

National Search and Rescue Advisory Council

With the support of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (Secretariat), the SAR community is building on its strengths and collaborating with each other as part of the National Search and Rescue Advisory Council (NSARAC). It is an inclusive, collaborative body of SAR partners that examines and provides strategic advice on SAR policy and program matters and serves as a voice for Canada's SAR community. Public Safety is one of the three co-chairs for this council.

Urban Search and Rescue Advisory Committee

The Urban Search and Rescue Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to Public Safety on annual funding priorities as well as long-term policy vision for the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) Program. Membership includes representatives from Public Safety, each province/territory and from the HUSAR task forces.

Associated committees

Ground Search and Rescue Council of Canada

The Ground Search and Rescue Council of Canada (GSARCC) represents provincial and territorial SAR authorities, as well as national organizations with an operational or policy role in the delivery of Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) services. Public Safety is a member of this council.

Federal Search and Rescue Operations Governance Committee

The Federal Search and Rescue Operations Governance Committee (FSAROGC) was created following a recommendation from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. It is the principal oversight body for the effective coordination of aeronautical and maritime SAR operations conducted by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces as part of the federal component of the national SAR system.

Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management

Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management (SOREM) is a federal, provincial, territorial body that works to harmonize and improve emergency practices across the country.

SOREM includes representatives from provincial and territorial Emergency Management Organizations and Public Safety and is responsible for providing guidance and advice on how to enhance emergency management to federal, provincial and territorial Deputy Ministers responsible for emergency management. It also provides guidance to the standing forum of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for emergency management.

SOREM is also responsible for providing direction, advice and support to committees and working groups and non-governmental organizations dealing with crisis and consequence management issues at a national level.

International Search and Rescue Advisory Group

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs oversees guidelines and classification for USAR at the international level via a global network of USAR stakeholders called the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

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