Search and rescue future uncertain following B.C. budget

The future of B.C.'s volunteer search and rescue programs has SAR groups worriedafter no new fundingwas included in Tuesday's provincial budget.

Current provincialfundingruns out on March 31which means they will need to considercuttingprograms, director Jim McAllister told Robyn Burns host ofCBC's Daybreak North

"We're still hopeful there will be a separateannouncement before the end of the fiscal year, but we're trying hard to crunch numbers now and see what we can carry forward past March."

B.C. has 80 recognized search and rescue groups with 2,500 volunteers who respond to over 1,800 incidents annually across theprovince.

Funding for incident response is guaranteed by the province but funding for volunteer training, public education programs is unpredictable.

'On the radar' says NDP

When asked about the absence of SAR fundingin thebudget, Finance MinisterCaroleJames said theNDP'splan for SAR is still under discussion.

"[It's] certainly on the radar of the minister and those discussions, I know, will continue, to make sure we can provide support for the incredible volunteers and theincredible organizations.

"We're getting into avalanche seasonand we've seen the incredible work that they provide in communities," she said.

Current funding model

In 2016, the Liberal government announced a one-time grant of $10 million forB.C. SAR, and the association received another$5 million from theNDP last year.

This money has gone towards avalanche safety education, peer supportand training for SARvolunteers, as well as replacement safety equipment like rope. Volunteers pay out of pocket for their personal attire.

The association has been in discussion with the province since 2013 about the need for guaranteed funding to continue operations. B.C. SARwas hoping for a yearlycommitment from the NDP in Budget 2019.

"What we're saying to the province isfund it, and you figure out where the money comes from," said McAllister.

Listen to the full interview with Jim McAllister of the BC SAR Association here: