Battlefords Search and Rescue's November meeting was another small gathering, continuing a trend of dwindling numbers for the group of volunteers.
Gregg Sheppard, BSR president, attributes the decline in membership - down to a dozen from the average 30 of previous years - to one big change.
"We've disbanded all our outdoor activities," said Sheppard, explaining the outdoor survival skills training sessions were not only important, but fun.
BSR had to cancel their outdoor activities due to insurance issues, after two volunteer Canadian search and rescue teams were sued in recent years.
Sheppard said the group looked at paying for insurance, but the $2,400 per year cost would be difficult for the small volunteer group.
"We just can't afford it," said Sheppard.
Duane McKay, Saskatchewan's fire commissioner, said a public safety review committee, comprised of municipalities, search and rescue organizations, fire services, emergency planners and the provincial government, is looking at issues surrounding the delivery of public safety.
"One of the issues that was identified was their insurance, their ability to protect their volunteers when they go out and do training or work," said McKay.
McKay explained the province was looking at not just search and rescue groups, but also volunteer firefighters and other similar volunteer groups.
"We need to make sure we're fixing the problem for everybody when we fix it," he said.
The fire commissioner added Saskatchewan is working with its neighbours, Manitoba and Alberta, to see how they're handling the issue.
In Alberta, the provincial government not only covers liability for volunteer search and rescue teams, but has made it law with Bill 6. British Columbia is considering the same after a Quebec man filed a lawsuit against a volunteer search and rescue team in Golden, B.C. The man and his wife became lost while skiing out of bounds and, after spending days in the elements without the proper gear, his wife died.
Sheppard said it was unlikely the BSR would encounter a similar issue, especially without any large mountains or heavily wooded areas in the vicinity, and their services are typically required only once or twice a year, but it still isn't worth the risk.
"Sure, maybe it's a remote chance, but it just has to happen once," said Sheppard, adding even a relatively minor incident, such as a volunteer spraining their ankle on a practice search, could become serious if the volunteer decided to sue.
McKay said, "Saskatchewan is really known for its massive volunteer contingence and the work they do," adding he doesn't want to see that change over insurance issues.
"Our mandate is to fix the problem so that volunteers can do the work they need to do and be protected," said McKay, but added the province is moving forward with only recommendations that don't require any policy changes or additional funding.
The public safety review committee has released a report, but until the provincial government has time to review the recommendations, the report will not be made public.
