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By Greg Fry

Search and Rescue

Some BC Search and Rescue teams accuse government ministry of bullying, misuse of authority and more

Jan 8, 2024 | 3:12 PM

BRITISH COLUMBIA — Five of the current 78 Search and Rescue teams in the province have taken aim at the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

They allege the government ministry has ignored significant safety concerns, bullied, intimidated and threatened search and rescue volunteers, ignored advancements in technology and say sexist behaviour by EMCR staff-approved trainers were not taken seriously.

In a letter signed by search and rescue team members in Whistler, Squamish, Houston, Fort St. James, Prince Rupert and by Dwight Yochim, the former CEO of BC Search and Rescue, they say its critical the government act quickly to correct its relationship with the search and rescue community.

In the six page letter addressed to Premier David Eby, they allege the ministry of EMCR ignored and did not disclose significant safety concerns found in a training audit.

The concerns were related to training standards for a specific capacity the results of which they allege was hidden for years.

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“When EMCR staff were confronted, the response was not one of concern about the findings in the safety audit, which were not positive and required corrective action, but, instead, the concern was that BCSARA was now aware of the audit results. Instead of being concerned for the safety of SAR members and rescue subjects, the most pressing matter for EMCR was an effort to find out how BCSARA found out about the results,” reads the letter.

The letter also states that EMCR ignores advances in technology that could save lives today.

“EMCR has a long history of taking years to implement any new technology, even when it has already been approved federally. EMCR is known in the SAR community as the ministry of “no.” The first response from EMCR is always “no” rather than having an open mind to advances that may help in the search and rescue of subjects.”

The letter also alleges sexist behaviour by EMCR-approved trainers was not taken seriously.

“EMCR received a complaint about the sexist behavior of a trainer who instructs at one of EMCR’s well-known and approved training organizations. However, it wasn’t until three complaints from three different female SAR volunteers who attended three different training events were received that EMCR finally reacted. EMCR’s first reaction was to consider changing how complaints were received so that BCSARA would not be aware of them. SAR volunteers should be able to attend any EMCR-approved training without fear of experiencing sexist comments and behaviors and it should not take three complaints before EMCR reacts.”

The letter also alleges bullying, intimidation and threats.

“Since the announcement in 2019 of the alternative support model funding and EMCR’s implementation of a director of SAR, a noticeable change in a tone of authority has come to permeate the previous collaborative relationship. A litany of stalled programs, ineffective policy, and an increasingly combative attitude towards volunteers by EMCR staff is well documented. It is common for EMCR staff to threaten and intimidate BCSARA staff, committees, and board members as well as search and rescue volunteers. EMCR staff have often threatened to pull funding for search and rescue if minor things such as a report deadline might be missed, or if, in EMCR’s staff opinion, a report is not complete. BCSARA has never missed a deadline nor submitted an incomplete report and, yet it is often threatened with the removal of its funding.”

George Heyman, acting Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy provided the following response to the allegations:

“Search and rescue volunteers play a critical role in providing life-saving services across our entire province. We respect and appreciate their training, knowledge and dedication. Whenever we hear of a rescue British Columbians are amazed and relieved that we have community members who volunteer their energy and skills to SAR groups to keep the rest of us safe. The concerns raised in this letter are very troubling, and I intend to meet with the BC Search and Rescue Association this month to discuss and address these concerns. Additionally, we are actively working to strengthen our collaboration with the BC Ground Search and Rescue Groups to ensure they have all the support they need in their life-saving efforts. Together I am confident that we can re-establish the trust and effective collaborative relationships that British Columbians need and expect.”