Former CEO of the BC Search and Rescue Association Searching for Answers from Ministry

Coquitlam resident Dwight Yochim, who was recently ousted as CEO of the BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) , says the group's members have been bullied, threatened and disrespected by the province's Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR).

Mr.Yochim said he was dismissed after a difficult couple of years under the provincial government’s new (EMCR) ministry, which he feels has increased bureaucracy and hindered BC Search and Rescue Association's efforts to conduct life saving services to the people of British Columbia.

Mr.Yochim says, while there have always been challenges with bureaucracy, things were looking more positive when BCSARA received increased funding from the province three years ago. Unfortunately, he feels that the relationship between EMCR and BCSARA has gone down hill ever since.

If he had his choice, Mr.Yochim says he would like to see BC adopt a system similar to that on New Zealand where search and rescue volunteers are entirely in charge of running and reporting on their activities. If this cannot be done he says he would, at the very least, like to see organizational changes that would allow BCSARA and EMCR to work together in a respectful manner.

Mr.Yochim is concerned that lives could be lost because of EMCR’s inactions and toxic relationship with the 3,400 Search and Rescue volunteers working in B.C.

In a letter to Premier Eby, Yochim alleges the following points against EMCR staff and trainers:

-they ignored and did not disclose significant safety concerns found in a training audit.

-they have a disrespectful attitude toward Search and Rescue members.

-they ignore advances in technology that can save lives, including the use of video scanning software, drones and Artemis (a device that turns a cell phone into a beacon).

-they bully, intimate and threaten.

-they put a moratorium on new capabilities.

-they use sexist behaviors that are not taken seriously.

In response to this interview Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness said she has met directly with ground search and rescue groups and heard their concerns. She also said that her ministry has taken positive steps to resolve key concerns based on their feedback.

Mr. Yochim feels that EMCT is still holding back results of a recent audit and that they should release the results of that audit so that they can be addressed.