Canadian Coast Guard Information Kit

Who We Are

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) owns and operates the federal government’s civilian fleet, and provides key maritime services to Canadians.

As a Special Operating Agency (SOA) of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Coast Guard helps DFO meet its responsibility to ensure safe and accessible waterways for Canadians. The CCG also plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable use and development of Canada’s oceans and waterways. SOA status allows the CCG to focus on service delivery and provides it with the operational and financial flexibilities necessary to do so.

Canadians expect the federal government to:

• protect the marine environment;
• support economic growth;
• ensure public safety on the water; and
• ensure the nation’s sovereignty and security by establishing a strong federal presence in Canadian waters.

The CCG helps the government meet the public’s expectation of clean, safe, secure, healthy and productive waters and coastlines while facilitating marine commerce critical to Canada’s economic prosperity. A nationally recognized symbol of safety, Coast Guard serves on three oceans, the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and other major waterways. It is often the only federal presence in many remote, Aboriginal, and Arctic communities, operating in some of the most difficult weather conditions in the world.

The CCG has a proud history and a noble tradition Region of service and safety. It enjoys the confidence of Canadians because of its professional and dedicated workforce who are on station, on patrol or on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our Mandate

The Coast Guard’s mandate derives from the Oceans Act, the Canada Shipping Act and the Constitutional Act, 1867.

The Constitutional Act, 1867 gives the federal government exclusive legislative authority over navigation, shipping, beacons, buoys, lighthouses and Sable Island.

The Oceans Act and the Canada Shipping Act give the Coast Guard its specific mandate. Parliament has mandated the Coast Guard to play the lead role in ensuring that our waterways are safe and accessible, and to provide services for the economical and efficient movement of ships.

Our Clients

The CCG serves 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, the Coast Guard:

• provides services to commercial fishers, commercial shippers, port authorities, and recreational boaters;
• responds to federal maritime priorities and natural or man-made emergencies as a key player in various activities mandated under the Federal Emergency Response Plan; and
• supports DFO programs by providing vessels and maritime professionals to support the Department’s 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.

The CCG also supports the non-military activities of other government departments and agencies by providing vessels, aircraft, marine expertise, and other maritime services:

• Department of National Defence;
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
• Environment Canada;
• Health Canada;
• Natural Resources Canada;
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council;
• Public Safety Canada (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Canada Border Services Agency); and
• Transport Canada.