Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has announced the government has no plans to privatize military search and rescue.

Government says it won't privatize search and rescue

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Cheryl Santa Maria

Digital Reporter

Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 1:28 PM - Originally published April 12 | LAST UPDATED: April 13 @ 15:46

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has announced the government has no plans to privatize military search and rescue.

He made the announcement Tuesday in response to a question from a member of the NDP after it was reported by the Ottawa Citizen a government military review questioned if there were "alternatives" to the military conducting search and rescue missions or, more specifically, “models for alternative service delivery that could be explored.”

“The previous government might have been looking at privatizing search and rescue,” Sajjan told the House of Commons.

“But I can assure the member that this government is not, because the Canadian Armed Forces play a critical role in search and rescue.”

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The question about the military's role in search and rescue was raised as part of an overall review.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters last week the government will consult with the public, parliamentarians and defence experts on the best way to structure the military going forward.

A new policy is expected to be released in early 2017.

As part of the review, the government has released a 36-page document seeking feedback on the military, with one section focused on search and rescue.

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How are search and rescue efforts used in Canada?

According to the government, the Canadian Armed Forces responds to more than 9,000 distress calls each year, with 1,000 of those calls requiring military search-and-rescue helicopters or airplanes.

The other 8,000 calls are tended to with the help of other government departments, volunteers and private companies.

Statistics available on the Government of Canada website suggests search and rescue efforts cost approximately $5 million a year.

When have search and rescue efforts been used in Canada?

The Weather Network has covered several search and rescue efforts, because many are directly tied to the climate and the weather. Wildfires, floods, blizzards, and high tides are just a few scenarios where search and rescue teams may be deployed.

Here are some examples:





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