Search and Rescue group pleads with province to find it more money
CBC
The president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association is calling on the provincial government to give the organization substantially more money for its search and rescue efforts.
In a presentation as part of the provincial public inquiry into search and rescue, Harry Blackmore said volunteers are currently forced to spend "significant" time fundraising in order to maintain equipment, complete necessary training and perform necessary operations.
"We lose good trained professionals each year due to burnout from fundraising and other unnecessary time commitments," he said.
Currently, the provincial government gives the association $91,000 a year to help pay for insurance, radio licensing fees, an annual general meeting and other expenses, said Blackmore. The province is also providing a temporary annual grant of $100,000 to help with equipment upgrades.
Blackmore presented a document asking the government to increase its operating grant to $2 million for two years, and then $1 million annually in order to provide the association's teams of volunteers with "sufficient sustainability" to continue operating.
The NLSARA presentation was part of an inquiry into search and rescue operations in Newfoundland and Labrador. The inquiry was established to make improvements in search and rescue missions after Makkovik teenager Burton Winters froze to death on sea ice in 2012.
The new funding would cover new training and equipment upgrades that could potentially aid in similar search efforts. The NLSARA specifically pointed to communications and mapping equipment, ice rescue equipment and training, rope rescue equipment and training, and all terrain vehicle and snowmobile training.