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Strategic Human Resources Plan
2008/2011

About the Canadian Coast Guard

A National Institution

The Canadian Coast Guard is a national institution that contributes to maintaining a safe, secure, accessible and sustainable maritime transportation system. It is Canada's civilian maritime organization and plays an essential role in fulfilling the Government of Canada maritime mandate. Coast Guard is also a symbol of Canada's sovereignty, providing Canadians with a federal presence and sense of safety and security on all three coasts.

On an average day, the Coast Guard:

  • saves eight lives;
  • assists 55 people in 19 search and rescue cases;
  • services 55 navigational aids;
  • handles 1,127 marine radio contacts;
  • manages 2,346 commercial ship movements;
  • escorts four commercial ships through ice;
  • carries out 12 fisheries patrols, supports eight scientific surveys and supports three hydrographic missions;
  • deals with three reported pollution events;
  • surveys five kilometers of navigation channel bottom; and
  • provides, through the Canadian Coast Guard College, the vital technical training and leadership skills needed to successfully fulfill all of our above noted responsibilities.

Programs and Services

Coast Guard operates across one of the longest coastlines in the world, the largest archipelago, inland water systems that stretch 3,700 kilometers and a 3.7 million square-kilometer Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone. Coast Guard's mission, Excellence in maritime services, guides the delivery of the following program activities:

  • Aids to Navigation Services;
  • Waterways Management Services;
  • Marine Communications and Traffic Services;
  • Icebreaking Services;
  • Search and Rescue Services;
  • Environmental Response Services; and
  • Maritime Security.

These programs and services are supported through:

  • Fleet Operational Readiness;
  • Lifecycle Asset Management Services; and
  • The Coast Guard College.
For more information on business priorities, please consult the 2007/10 edition of the Canadian Coast Guard Agency Business Plan
Date Modified: 2011-10-03

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