The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety:

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand today to spread the word about an important initiative of the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada to assist people in effectively planning and preparing for their outdoor excursions.

Through funding from the Federal Government, the new AdventureSmart Trip Plan App focuses on the three t’s: trip planning, training and taking essentials. The app walks people through a comprehensive trip plan that can be shared with family or friends as well as gives outdoor survival tips, suggestions for appropriate clothing and additional information specific to the outdoor activity. There is also information on the essentials of any equipment list, including those specific to a chosen activity, season and location.

Mr. Speaker, the app incorporates a six-step process to ensure a person’s emergency contacts have the detailed information of a trip, including time of departure and expected return, location and purpose of a trip, as well as names and contact information for all participants, which can be provided to the authorities in case of emergency. This app helps give people essential information to ensure a safe trip and is currently available on iOS and Android devices for free download.

Search and rescue volunteers are an integral part of public safety in this province and the work they do is extremely important. That is why this government introduced a new tax credit to support the volunteers who play such an important role in search and rescue operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the search and rescue teams across this province for their hard work, dedication and commitment to their communities.

Thank you.