Overview

• An Order in Council signed this week formally brought the Canadian Coast Guard into the Department of National Defence’s Defence Team.
• The Coast Guard keeps its civilian Special Operating Agency status with no change to its mandate, continuing search and rescue, icebreaking, environmental response, safe navigation and ocean science.
• Key personnel from Fisheries and Oceans Canada are transferring to support tighter cross‑government collaboration on maritime priorities.
• Bill C-2 before Parliament would expand the Coast Guard’s services to include maritime security activities if passed.
• As of July 2025, the Coast Guard operates a fleet of 126 vessels and leads marine search and rescue with the Canadian Armed Forces and more than 4,000 CCG Auxiliary volunteers.