Government of Canada provides funding to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

DELTA, BC, Nov. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Member of Parliament for Delta and Minister of Public Services and Procurement, on behalf of the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced close to $1,5 million in federal funding to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre for their project regarding the ICS Incident Management and Interoperability under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF). 

This funding will help the development of a national database for tracking Incident Command System (ICS) Canada-certified instructors and create a standardized catalogue of ICS reporting forms. This will help providing consistent data-gathering and raise situational awareness throughout all federal, provincial and territorial organizations that are using ICS Canada, especially in the Search and Rescue community.

The SAR NIF aims to fund projects that improve and enhance the objectives of the National Search and Rescue Program (NSP).  The Government of Canada dedicates $7.6 million each year to support new and ongoing projects under SAR NIF.

Quotes

"Canadians love to play, work and explore in the great outdoors all across our country. The search and rescue community works tirelessly to keep us all safe if something goes wrong. Through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, the Government of Canada is proud to support more effective and coordinated search and rescue capacity—to provide better tools to help the volunteers and experts who respond to emergencies and work to prevent them before they happen. From updating our national emergency management framework to restoring funding for Heavy Urban Search and Rescue teams across Canada, the federal government is determined to pay greater attention to emergency planning, preparedness and response. I'm confident that today's investment will help keep people safe."

—    The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"I welcome this SAR NIF funding for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre to develop an ICS Canada national database which will help enhance collaboration, information-sharing and data management among partners. I wish to thank volunteers for their efforts during the wildfire season and the work they do to improve forest fire management."

—    The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Member of Parliament for Delta and Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre is pleased to partner with the Government of Canada in this important initiative.  The creation of ICS Canada promotes true interoperability and provides all first responders the option of functioning under a common incident management system, providing the safest and most effective integration of multiple disciplines."

—    Kim Connors, Executive Director, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

Quick Facts:

• Investments in the SAR NIF will:
• Promote and support projects designed to develop and improve SAR prevention;
• Enhance the effectiveness of the SAR response in federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions; and,
• Share SAR response and prevention best practices throughout the SAR community.
• The Government of Canada funds up to 95 per cent of approved search and rescue projects through the SAR NIF.  Recipients must obtain a minimum of 5 per cent of the total project cost by way of in-kind and/or cash contribution from other sources.
• Projects are selected through a merit-based process using objective and measurable criteria.

Associated Links

• Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Scott Bardsley, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]