Whereas Search and Rescue volunteers provide valuable service in support of police forces, the BC Ambulance Service, the Coroners Service, and local governments in the province, and the costs associated with providing the necessary training, equipment and facilities is increasing; And whereas Search and Rescue groups rely on grants and other time consuming, short term and unpredictable funding sources which do not provide financial security or allow long term strategic operational planning; And whereas the Province has supported Search and Rescue groups with a series of one year grants for the last three years, there is no provision in the 2019 budget for any further financial support for Search and Rescue groups: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province to implement a consistent and sustainable funding model for Search and Rescue groups to allow them to better provide efficient and effective search and rescue operations.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General The Province recognizes that British Columbias Ground Search and Rescue volunteers are among the best in the world and the Province is committed to supporting their invaluable work. Emergency Management BC, in collaboration with the BC Search and Rescue Association, continues work to establish a sustainable and secure long-term funding model. In March of 2019, the Province invested 18.6 million, distributed over a three-year period, to support operations, training and expanded equipment and activities. This investment represents the single largest provincial ground search and rescue contribution in British Columbias history and will provide the Province and the BC Search and Rescue Association the time required to develop a sustainable model for consideration for implementation by fiscal year 20222023 and beyond.