An important event toward furthering recreational vessel safety took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 22 October 2005. Representing the National Commodore, National Vice Commodore Steve Budar signed a “Joint Statement of Intent to Foster Bilateral Cooperation” between the USCG Auxiliary and the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS). The Chief Commander of the CPS, Serge St. Martin signed the statement for his organization.

The purpose of this agreement is to further foster on the water safety to the citizens of both nations while recognizing the mutual advantages to be obtained from bilateral cooperation.

This cooperative effort is not new. A few years ago, the USCG Auxiliary adopted the CPS Global Positioning Course and for many years used it for instructional purposes.

The joint statement states the following intentions for both organizations.

• Continue to provide senior leadership attendance at each other’s national meetings to discuss topics of mutual interest and, as appropriate, develop joint programs. Both organizations have already sent representatives to each other's conference.
• Be alert for opportunities to partner in the development of educational materials.
• Consult on a variety of legislative and regulatory initiatives and mandates such as boating safety education, public boating education and certification examination process, regulations concerning the mandatory wearing of personal floatation devices, etc. To discover and develop where alignment exists and the two organizations can combine efforts to support public policy and boating safety initiatives.
• Facilitate the dissemination of policies and procedures required of Canadian boaters to boat in U.S. waters and for U.S. boaters to boat in Canadian waters.
• Encourage the exchange of information, technologies and other materials to the benefit of both organizations on their related activities through cooperative visits or joint meetings at all levels of their organizations and linking the websites of both organizations.
• Foster joint membership between the two organizations by inviting members of both organizations to apply to become members of the other organization.

Following the signing of the joint statement a follow up meeting was held on 6 January 2006 in Orlando, Florida. This meeting was held during the US Power Squadron Annual General Meeting. Attending the meeting were representatives from the USCG Auxiliary and the CPS. The U.S. representatives were National Commodore Gene Seibert, PNACO Everette Tucker, and Peter Urgola, Chief, Vessel Examination Department (DC-V). The Bridge of the CPS accompanied the Chief Commander, Serge St-Martin.

Awareness of each other’s organization was an important topic of discussion. Each organization agreed to publish an article about the other in their National publications. Expanding the awareness of each organization by their opposite membership could lead to implementing procedures for joint membership. Where convenient, this could open the potential for expanded educational opportunities. At a minimum, awareness of each other would further friendships, camaraderie and the sharing of ideas.

The Chief Commander said that a vessel safety check similar to the USCG Auxiliary vessel safety check program was shortly in the offing. Ontario would probably be the place for this program to be initiated. The current program, which closely resembles the old USCG Auxiliary Courtesy Marine Exam Program (CME) would be augmented. The ultimate goal would be the institution on a combined North American vessel safety check program incorporating the separate National requirements.

A Program Visitor program is currently non-existent. A program modeled after the USCG Auxiliary’s program was a distinct possibility. The potential for increasing the CPS’ exposure to the Canadian public was duly noted.

The CPS currently has a combined Public Education and Member Training program. They currently plan to develop enhanced leadership training programs for their elected officers, especially senior leaders. Efforts to open up lines of communication and share methods of member training would be beneficial to both organizations.

The National Safe Boating Week program in Canada closely resembles the National Safe Boating Council’s program in which the USCG Auxiliary participates. Joint opportunities, especially with units close to the Canada/US borders, would now exist. The sharing of presentation ideas would be a benefit of this cooperation.

Both organizations agreed to provide links to each other’s organization on their respective websites.

-SK