Standing Committee on National Defence

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Comité permanent de la défense nationale

For immediate release

Ottawa, January 13, 2011 - The Standing Committee on National Defence will be visiting Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard search and rescue facilities in Gander and St-John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Greenwood and Halifax, Nova Scotia from January 31 to February 3 2011. These visits are in relation to its study initiated in spring 2010 on Search and Rescue response times due to the concerns being raised following the Cougar Flight 491 crash off the coast of Newfoundland in 2009.

Members believe that these visits would be useful to gain an appreciation of the policies in place regarding search and rescue, the equipment available to conduct these missions as well as the environment and conditions in which Canada’s search and rescue technicians deploy.

By hearing from those who conduct search and rescue missions, Members will gain a better understanding as to whether or not Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard members have the necessary policies and equipment in place to best protect Canadians who may find themselves in distress within Canadian territory and waters.

In addition, Committee Members would also like to hear from Canadians who either have an expertise in the field of search and rescue or are personally affected by the search and rescue services provided by the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard and their network of search and rescue partners. The Committee will be holding open public hearings on these issues in Gander on January 31 and St-John’s, Newfoundland on February 1 2011.