National Search and Rescue Secretariat
Encyclopedia
The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) is an independent agency of the Government of Canada
.
It was established in 1986 as one of the recommendations resulting from the Royal Commission
of Enquiry into the Ocean Ranger
disaster.
The NSS reports to the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR), who is the Minister of National Defence
. The NSS supports and promotes the National Search and Rescue Program
and coordinates SAR activities at the federal level among the following agencies, which in turn, representatives from these organizations comprise the Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR).
NSS works with provincial and territorial SAR authorities to develop and standardize SAR services. NSS also funds research, studies, workshops and conferences, as well as publishing the quarterly SARSCENE magazine.
The NSS also coordinates the Canadian contribution to the COSPAS-SARSAT
satellite alerting system, as well as monitoring standards and maintains the Canadian registry for distress beacons.
Another recommendation from the Ocean Ranger
disaster has resulted in the "New SAR Initiatives Fund" (NIF). This fund was established by the federal government in 1988 and is managed by the NSS on behalf of the LMSAR. NIF provides annual funding for new projects (or initiatives) that will improve the National Search and Rescue Program
.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
.
It was established in 1986 as one of the recommendations resulting from the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
of Enquiry into the Ocean Ranger
Ocean Ranger
Ocean Ranger was a semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit that sank in Canadian waters on 15 February 1982. It was drilling an exploration well in the Grand Banks area, east of St. John's, Newfoundland, for Mobil Oil of Canada, Ltd. with 84 crew members on board when it sank...
disaster.
The NSS reports to the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue (LMSAR), who is the Minister of National Defence
Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
. The NSS supports and promotes the National Search and Rescue Program
National Search and Rescue Program
The National Search and Rescue Program is the name given by the Government of Canada to the collective search and rescue activities in Canada...
and coordinates SAR activities at the federal level among the following agencies, which in turn, representatives from these organizations comprise the Interdepartmental Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR).
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(Department of National DefenceDepartment of National Defence (Canada)The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
) - Canadian Coast GuardCanadian Coast GuardThe Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
(Fisheries and Oceans CanadaFisheries and Oceans CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
) - Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(Public Safety Canada) - Transport CanadaTransport CanadaTransport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
- Meteorological Service of CanadaMeteorological Service of CanadaThe Meteorological Service of Canada , also known as "The Canadian Weather Service", is a division of Environment Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards...
(Environment CanadaEnvironment CanadaEnvironment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
) - Parks CanadaParks CanadaParks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
NSS works with provincial and territorial SAR authorities to develop and standardize SAR services. NSS also funds research, studies, workshops and conferences, as well as publishing the quarterly SARSCENE magazine.
The NSS also coordinates the Canadian contribution to the COSPAS-SARSAT
Cospas-Sarsat
Cospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue distress alert detection and information distribution system, established by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979. It is best known as the system that detects and locates emergency beacons...
satellite alerting system, as well as monitoring standards and maintains the Canadian registry for distress beacons.
Another recommendation from the Ocean Ranger
Ocean Ranger
Ocean Ranger was a semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit that sank in Canadian waters on 15 February 1982. It was drilling an exploration well in the Grand Banks area, east of St. John's, Newfoundland, for Mobil Oil of Canada, Ltd. with 84 crew members on board when it sank...
disaster has resulted in the "New SAR Initiatives Fund" (NIF). This fund was established by the federal government in 1988 and is managed by the NSS on behalf of the LMSAR. NIF provides annual funding for new projects (or initiatives) that will improve the National Search and Rescue Program
National Search and Rescue Program
The National Search and Rescue Program is the name given by the Government of Canada to the collective search and rescue activities in Canada...
.