CCG  Business Plan 2009-2012

Section 1: Who We Are and What We Do

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has a direct and important impact on the lives of Canadians. We help ensure the safe use of Canadian waterways, and we facilitate the smooth functioning of the Canadian economy. 

A nationally recognized symbol of safety, Coast Guard serves on three oceans, the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes, and other major waterways. Often CCG is the only federal presence in many remote, Aboriginal, and Arctic communities. Operating along the longest coastline in the world and in some of its most difficult weather conditions, CCG operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year (for information on what we do every day, please refer to Section 4).

Legal Mandate

Coast Guard’s mandate derives from the Constitution Act, 1867, which gives the federal government exclusive legislative authority over navigation, shipping, beacons, buoys, lighthouses, and Sable Island.

The Oceans Act gives the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans responsibility for services for the safe, economical, and efficient movement of ships in Canadian waters through the provision of aids to navigation, marine communications and traffic management services, icebreaking and ice management services, and channel maintenance.

The Oceans Act also gives the Minister responsibility for the marine component of the federal search and rescue program, marine pollution response, and support to other government departments, boards, and agencies through the provision of ships, aircraft, and other services.

The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 gives the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans responsibilities, powers, and obligations with respect to aids to navigation, Sable Island, St. Paul Island, search and rescue, pollution response, and vessel traffic services.

Under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (AWPPA), a Ministerial Order may be signed for and issued on behalf of the Governor-in-Council by the Minister of Transport, to provide support and visible written authority for actions taken on their behalf by a designated On-scene Commander of an Arctic spill incident. Subject to regulations under AWPPA and to applicable inter-agency agreements, the Canadian Coast Guard has lead agency responsibility for ensuring responses to ship-source spills, mystery source spills, and ship-source pollution incidents that occur as a result of loading or unloading to or from ships or oil handling facilities in Arctic waters of Canadian interest.

Who We Serve and What We Do

We serve clients in all sectors of the Canadian economy: the general public, commercial shippers, ferry operators, fishers, recreational boaters, coastal communities, and other government departments and agencies. For example:

• We provide services related to aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, pollution response, and marine communications and traffic management to commercial fishers, commercial shippers, ports, and recreational boaters.

• We respond to federal maritime priorities and natural or man-made emergencies. We provide support for various activities mandated under the Federal Emergency Response Plan and are involved both nationally and internationally in planning and exercises related to environmental response and search and rescue.

• We support DFO programs by providing vessels and maritime professionals to support science activities and to help manage and protect fisheries resources. Internal clients include DFO Fisheries Management, DFO Oceans Management, DFO Science, and DFO Small Craft Harbours.

• We support the non-military activities of other government departments and agencies by providing vessels, aircraft, marine expertise, and other maritime services, including support to maritime security activities. Clients for these services include the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Environment Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, and Transport Canada.

How We Are Structured and Managed

The Canadian Coast Guard is a national Agency with headquarters in the National Capital Region and five regional offices (Newfoundland and Labrador, Maritimes, Quebec, Central and Arctic, and Pacific), stretching from coast to coast to coast. CCG is a highly decentralized organization, and the vast majority of its employees are located in the regions.

The Commissioner is the Chief Executive Officer of the agenncy, reporting and accountable to the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the performance of the Coast Guard. The Commissioner has the full authority of an Associate Deputy Minister, with the exception of Section 33 of the Financial Administration Act, reflecting the intention of the Coast Guard to rely on DFO for comptroller functions. The Coast Guard Deputy Commissioner is the Chief Operating Officer of the agency, reporting to the Commissioner.

This organization and governance information is shown in the Figure 1.

Coast Guard Management Board (MB) is the Agency’s senior decision-making body. The Board is chaired by the Commissioner and comprises the Deputy Commissioner, the Directors General, the Assistant Commissioners, and the Executive Directors of the Canadian Coast Guard College and National Labour Force Renewal Directorate. The senior human resources advisor, the senior legal advisor, the senior financial advisor, the senior communications advisor, and the Executive Advisor to the Commissioner are ex officio members of MB. MB is supported by a number of permanent and temporary sub-committees.

External Advisory Groups

Strategic Advisory Council (SAC) – Chaired by the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, SAC comprises Deputy Ministers from departments and agencies that receive support or services from Coast Guard. SAC’s role is to provide input to strategic decisions and performance feedback on CCG service delivery.

National Marine Advisory Board (NMAB) and Regional Marine Advisory Boards (RMABs) – the NMAB and its six regional counterparts (RMABs) are the Coast Guard’s primary interface with the marine shipping industry.  They provide a forum for discussion of shared priorities and objectives as well as the feedback on service delivery that CCG requires as a service provider.

Additionally, at the regional level, CCG consults with a variety of stakeholders, including fishers and recreational boaters, through various local fora such as Local Marine Advisory Councils and fishers advisory groups.  CCG also participates in Transport Canada-led national and regional Canadian Marine Advisory Councils and Recreational Boating Advisory Councils.

Figure 1 - CCG Management Structure

Where We Fit: 

Coast Guard, Clients and Stakeholders, and the Government of Canada

CCG does not operate alone. We work with many clients and stakeholders within and outside DFO, and our activities support the results those clients and stakeholders are seeking to achieve, as well as certain government-wide objectives. These activities, linkages, and desired results are shown in the figure below.

^[*] NOTE: CCG has committed to consulting clients and stakeholders and adjusting its Performance Measurement Framework, including targets, where required.  As a proxy, CCG will assess its performance against the extent to which all sub-activity targets are met.