LOCAL MARINE ADVISORY COUNCILS (LMACs)

The Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Services Regional Director is responsible for the overall direction of the Local Marine Advisory Councils (LMACs).

The LMACs were established in 1996 to improve the relationship between the Coast Guard and the communities at the local level. The LMACs are a permanent forum made up of volunteers representing stakeholders in six local geographic areas. Wherever practicable, the councils include recreational boaters, fishers, First Nations, and commercial users in the forum who have a stake in the services provided by CCG.

The purpose of the LMAC is to provide a forum where CCG can receive advice and input from stakeholders on relevant local maritime issues concerning the delivery of CCG maritime services. The Council is invited to make recommendations for consideration by Coast Guard management regarding programs and services in their respective local geographic area.

• Lower Mainland (Vancouver)
• South Coast (Victoria)
• North Georgia Strait (Campbell River)
• West Coast Vancouver Island (Ucluelet)
• North Coast (Prince Rupert)
• Okanagan-Shuswap (Kelowna)

LMAC TERMS OF REFERENCE

Version 6 - Final August 31st, 2005

Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Pacific Region
Local Marine Advisory Council (LMAC)

Terms of Reference

Background

Recognizing that the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is focused on the delivery of maritime services in support of Maritime Commerce and Safety on Canadian waters, for Canadians, and;

Recognizing that changes in how the Canadian Coast Guard delivers maritime services could have significant impacts on the stakeholders, who use those services, and;

Recognizing that the Coast Guard is wanting feedback on the quality of the services it delivers to its stakeholders;

It is essential that the stakeholders have an opportunity to provide the Coast Guard with their expertise, knowledge, interests, and views as input into how Coast Guard delivers its maritime services. The Coast Guard uses a variety of approaches for receiving this information. One such approach is the Local Marine Advisory Council.

Terms of Reference

The Canadian Coast Guard, Pacific Region Local Marine Advisory Councils are a permanent forum made up of volunteers representing stakeholders in a local geographic area. The purpose of the LMAC is to provide a forum where CCG can receive advice and input from stakeholders on relevant local maritime issues concerning the delivery of CG maritime services.

The Coast Guard will provide a Superintendent in a co-Chair capacity to work with the Community Chairperson to facilitate discussion and provide support to the Local Marine Advisory Council meetings.

The LMACs will be comprised of 12 - 18 members who will represent a cross-section of waterway stakeholders in the area. Wherever practicable, they will include recreational boaters, fishers, First Nations, and commercial users.

The Coast Guard delegated Chairperson will communicate clearly to the Council the issues facing it. The Coast Guard will provide timely and best available information on an issue for the Council so that the Council may be able to provide informed advice.

The Council is invited to make recommendations for consideration by Coast Guard management regarding programs and services in their respective local geographic area.

The Coast Guard will advise the Council as soon as practical on the status of recommendations received to enable the Council to evaluate its input.

The CCG Pacific Region LMAC Chairpersons will meet annually at the discretion of the Regional Director of CG Maritime Services.

The LMAC will have no less than one meeting scheduled for each calendar year, prior to the beginning of the year. Additional meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the Co-Chairpersons.

The Coast Guard Co-Chairperson will provide secretarial assistance for the operation of the LMAC recognizing the volunteer nature of the LMACs.

The Coast Guard Superintendent and Council members will ensure that best efforts are made to share information between LMACs and other Advisory Councils i.e. RBAC.

The Coast Guard recognizes that the LMAC may consider maritime service delivery issues that extend beyond the limits of the local geographic area.

The Council is invited to work with the Coast Guard to ensure that other government departments and agencies having an impact on federal maritime responsibilities are informed of issues under their jurisdiction.