By this definition, the NSP encompasses federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and volunteers working together to provide search and rescue in Canada.
[9] The delivery of search and rescue services in Canada continues to be partitioned according to the geographic, functional, and government jurisdiction in which a person happens to find themselves in distress, as described below: The Department of National Defence is the lead federal department responsible for providing and coordinating SAR response for incidents involving aircraft.
Due to their rapid response, air resources are often the first equipment tasked to respond in remote inland, coastal or offshore locations, regardless of whether it is for an aircraft or marine incident.
Marine resources for responding to federal search and rescue incidents in Canada are coordinated by, and often supplied by, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
That police agency, in coordination with the provincial or territorial (or municipal) government, may request federal resources to assist in responding to a ground or inland water SAR incident.
In the more remote parts of Canada, the Canadian Rangers may be requested to perform search and rescue missions in support of federal and provincial/territorial cases.
All provinces and territories have volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) organizations that are available to assist the responding police agency by providing trained searchers, equipment, and local knowledge.
Some volunteer teams have advanced capabilities in search management and high-angle, swift water, ice, and/or avalanche rescue.
In Alberta, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Office of the Fire Commissioner.
The RCMP is contracted to provide provincial policing services in Alberta and they, or a municipal police force, are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the province; however, this responsibility may be delegated to other agencies, namely Kanaskis Country Public Safety section of Alberta Environment and Parks.
In British Columbia, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is Emergency Management BC.
The RCMP is contracted to provide policing services in Nunavut and are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the territory.
In Quebec, the provincial government agency responsible for coordinating volunteer ground and inland water SAR is the Ministère de la Sécurité publique.
Volunteer ground search and rescue (GSAR) teams are represented by the Association québécoise des bénévoles en recherche et sauvetage.
The RCMP is contracted to provide policing services in Yukon and are responsible for responding to ground and inland water SAR incidents in the territory.