New SAR Initiatives Fund (NIF)
Final Reports
Fiscal Year 2003-2004
Summary
The New SAR Initiatives Fund (NIF) was established by the federal government
in 1988 to provide funding for new search and rescue projects (or initiatives)
that will improve the National Search and Rescue Program (NSP) in Canada.
The NIF is managed by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS)
on behalf of the Lead Minister of Search and Rescue (LMSAR) / Minister
of National Defence (MND) in partnership with federal SAR departments/agencies
and provincial/territorial SAR authorities.
The NIF has an annual budget allocation of $8.1 million. To date (2004),
the NIF has invested over $150 million in more than 750 projects. The
NIF has become a cornerstone of the NSP and has made a significant contribution
in the advancement of technology and improvement in Canada's ability to
provide economical and effective SAR response in all areas and jurisdictions.
NIF proposals are submitted through an authorized SAR federal or provincial/territorial
partnering agency. All proposals are reviewed by staff of the Secretariat
and the NIF Merit Board, composed of representatives of the Interdepartmental
Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR) and representatives of the provinces
and territories. Proposals are subsequently ranked in order of merit.
The merit list is endorsed by ICSAR, and then approved by the Lead Minister
for Search and Rescue. The annual funding for approved projects is distributed
according to order of merit, based on funding available for new projects.
NIF projects must be from one year to a maximum of three years in length.
At the time these projects were approved, they had to address at least
one of the funding categories below, although they may touch on several
areas:
- Partnerships;
- Multi-Jurisdictional Exercises;
- Volunteers;
- Technology and Innovation;
- Interoperability; and
- Data and Information.
This report provides a brief overview of each of the 37 projects completed
in 2003-04 and explains how they have improved search and rescue in Canada.
Further information regarding a specific NIF project, can be obtained
by contacting the partner/ project manager cited in each project summary.
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
- Nunavut Weather Radio Installation
- Ground Based Detection and Warning System for Aircraft Icing
- Internet Dissemination of Meteorological Information, Great Lakes
- High Resolution near Shore Wind Forecasts, Great Lakes
- Weather Stations in the Mountains of the Haute-Gaspésie
- Provision of Marine Radio Safety Services, Inuktitut
- SAR Response to a Tsunami, Pacific Region
- SAR Prevention and Training Material, Labrador Coast
- Testing/Monitoring of VHF Marine Distress Systems, Pilot Project,
Yukon
- Trunk Mobile Radios (TMR) for Primary Maritime SAR Resources - NS
- Automated External Defibrillation (AED) for the CCG
- Sea Kayaking SAR Prevention and Training Program
- SAR Access to Vessel Monitoring Information
- SLDMB Project Phase 2: Deployment Strategy
- Translation of Medical First Responder Instructor Guide
- An Optimized Instrument Approach Capability for SAR Helicopters
- Active Imager for Underwater SAR Ops
- Countermeasures for Airsickness for Cabin Aircrew (SAR Techs and Navigators)
- Advisor Tool for Estimating the Overland Location of Missing Aircraft
(SARLoc)
- Enhanced Response to Major SAR Incidents in the Arctic
- Capsized Vessel Survivor Extraction Trainers
- Impact of Map Configuration in Missions Using Optical Imaging Systems
- 406 MHz Traffic and Interface Monitoring System
- Multilingual Video: Wilderness Travel in Nunavut
- Quebec Collaborative Avalanche Project (QCAP)
- Prevention/Response Program for Sea Kayak Incidents - Mingan Archipelago
NPR
- Canadian SAR/Emergency Tabletop Exercise Program
- Wilderness Wise - Radio and Television Public Service Announcements
- SARCOP: Civilian and Police SAR Program
- Hug-a-Tree Presentations: Kettle River SAR, BC
- SAR Equipment and Training: West Coast Inland SAR, BC
- Training Auxiliary Members, Toronto Police, ON
- SAR and Recovery Dive Team Equipment and Training - Toronto Police
Service
- Forward Looking Infrared
- Establishment of Abitibi-Temiscamingue Regional SAR Capability
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Special thanks to all NIF Sponsors and Project Partners
NIF partners act as the link between the NSS and the project and assist
the National Search and Rescue Secretariat in the management of the projects.
Partners are listed in alphabetical order:
Federal
Environment Canada (Meteorological Service of Canada)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canadian Coast Guard)
Department of National Defence (Canadian Forces)
Parks Canada
Solicitor General (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)
Transport Canada
Provincial/territorial
British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program
Manitoba Emergency Management Organization
Manitoba Fire Commissioner
New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Justice
Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization
Nunavut Emergency Management
Northwest Territories Emergency Services Division
Emergency Management Alberta
Emergency Management Ontario
Prince Edward Island Emergency Measures Organization
Sûreté du Québec
Saskatchewan Emergency Planning
Yukon Emergency Measures Branch
Acronyms
and Abbreviations
AED - Automated External Defibrillator
AVISA - Airport Vicinity Icing and Snow Advisor
CASARA - Civil Air Search and Rescue Association
CCG - Canadian Coast Guard
CCGA - Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary
COSPAS-SARSAT - Search And Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking - COSPAS operated
by Russia, performs the equivalent function.
CAHG - Centre d'avalanche de la Haute-Gaspésie
CRC - Communications Research Centre
DRDC - Defence Research and Development Canada
DREV - Defence Research Establishment Valcartier
ELT - Emergency Locator Transmitters
EHS - Emergency Health Systems
FLIR - Forward Looking Infrared
GSAR - Ground Search and Rescue
HGAP - Haute Gaspésie Avalanche Centre
ICSAR - Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue
IMO - International Maritime Organization
LMSAR - Lead Minister for Search and Rescue
MHz - Megahertz
NPR - National Parks Region
NWR - Northwestern Region
O.P.P. - Ontario Provincial Police
PFD - Personal Flotation Device
PSA - Public service announcements
QCAP - Quebec Collaborative Avalanche Project
QDM - Query and display mechanism
PEP - Provincial Emergency Program
PIW - Person in the Water
ROV - Remotely operated vehicle
SLDMB - Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy
TIMS - Traffic and Interference Monitoring System
TMR - Trunk Mobile Radio
TPS - Toronto Police Service
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USRT - Underwater Search and Recovery Team
VFR - Visual Flight Rules
VHF - Very high frequency
WCISARS - West Coast Inland Search and Rescue Society
Conclusion
During 2003-04, 98 projects (42 new, 56 continuing) received funding
from the New SAR Initiatives Fund (NIF). The projects ranged from less
than $4,000 to a million dollars. The duration of these projects was between
one and three years.
In 2003-04, NIF audits were conducted on five projects:
- Chatham-Kent Search and Rescue Equipment and Training: Phase 3 (ON
2/02);
- Implementation of a Red Cross First Responder Program for all Ground
SAR Organizations in New Brunswick (NB 1/98);
- Boating Safety Campaign Among Canadian Adolescents (DFO 9/00);
- Global Position Indicating Radio Beacon (GPIRB) Test Facility (TC
2/00); and
- YouthSafe Outdoors: Outdoors Pursuits Risk Management (AB 1/00).
For recommendations and management responses to the NIF audits, please contact
the NSS at 1-800-727-9414.
The 37 projects completed in 2003-04 demonstrated that horizontal management
and national co-operation contributed to a more effective and efficient
National Search and Rescue Program. From high-tech research and development
projects to various SAR prevention programs, as well as the support of
local volunteer SAR groups, the NIF continues to support SAR nationwide
and to provide the resources necessary to help prevent SAR incidents from
occurring and to save lives in the event that an incident does occur.
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