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441-01780 (Public safety)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Whereas:
- Emergencies on Long Beach are attended by Parks Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard, Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue, B.C. Emergency Response Group, and the RCMP; however, rescues initially fall in the hands of surfers and beachgoers; On February 10, 2018, doctoral candidate Nijin John died near Lovekin Rock at Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve; bystander Vincent Mallaley attempted CPR but Nijin John ultimately died at the scene;
- On May 20, 2018, Ann Wittenberg died in an ocean accident near Lovekin Rock at Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve; surfers and other bystanders pulled her from the ocean and attempted CPR, but she died on scene hours before her daughter's (Victoria Orr) wedding;
- On March 26, 2019, four people spent two hours stranded on Lovekin Rock before being hoisted, unharmed, off the rock by a chopper; a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 around 4:00 p.m., and Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria proceeded to task a Royal Canadian Air Force Cormorant helicopter out of Canadian Forces Base Comox and the Canadian Coast Guard;
- On August 7, 2021 there was another drowning at Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve;
- According to Parks Canada, over one million people visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, making it the third most visited National Park in Canada; and
- Lifeguards watched over the beach as part of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's Surf Guard Program for 40 years until the federal Conservative government cut the program in 2012.
We, the undersigned, residents of British Columbia and visitors to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, call upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to reinstate the surf guard tower and surf guard services, and extend the duration of the surf guard program to accommodate the growing number of emergencies as well as visitors at Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULT
Safety is one of Parks Canada’s top priorities. As our country's largest natural and cultural tourism provider, Parks Canada is committed to providing visitors with safe and meaningful experiences. When it comes to water safety, Parks Canada recognizes that a regional, multi-faceted approach is required. To achieve this, Parks Canada collaborates with the Districts of Ucluelet and Tofino to raise awareness of water hazards through the CoastSmart program, a regional coastal safety campaign that focuses on prevention messaging for all unsupervised beaches in the region. Parks Canada is committed to collaborating further with stakeholders in the surf community.
A meeting was held recently with the Minister and the Member of Parliament from Courtenay--Alberni. As discussed there, the Minister is open to having Parks Canada taking surf safety multi-partner approach to the next phase, exploring the potential for a third-party organization to lead the education of visitors and local water users about the risks of the ocean. Working together with local partners will follow the successes and best practices of other recreation safety organizations and can help ensure a more thorough and tailored approach to messaging for users across the region. As this multi-partner work proceeds, the Minister is committed to another call with the Member of Parliament from Courtenay—Alberni.
The Surf Guard program concluded in 2012 as it was no longer aligned with evolving surf and water recreation practices in the region:
- The Surf Guard program only monitored one section of Long Beach for a few months during the peak summer season. There are 16 kilometres of beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s Long Beach Unit alone.
- Water activity now takes place year-round in the region, stretching across a broad network of beaches, with activities ranging from surfing, to stand up paddle boarding, storm watching, and more.
- In recent years, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors.
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve aligns with all surf beaches on the Pacific Coast of Canada from Sombrio Beach on southern Vancouver Island to North Beach on Haida Gwaii, which are not supervised. It is the responsibility of visitors to assess risks and make informed decisions.
Parks Canada does not intend to reinstate the surf guard program and is working to reduce the risk by addressing risk factors identified by the International Life Saving Federation.
The CoastSmart program’s public awareness campaign shares the key risks of recreating on or near water, whether surfing, beach walking, or engaging in many other coastal activities. Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce the frequency and severity of incidents. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve provides information to visitors through online platforms, signage, and the Coastal Stewards stationed on Long Beach during the summer. Together, these initiatives help visitors learn about ocean hazards and make informed decisions before and during their visit to the coast.
Parks Canada continues to focus efforts on visitor education and incident prevention in collaboration with other organizations, with the intention of broadening the reach of the program and seeking new opportunities to collaborate and amplify the messaging.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Gord Johns
(Courtenay—Alberni)
October 19, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01780) - Government response tabled
- December 4, 2023
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.