Joint Task Force Pacific
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Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) is one of six regional joint task forces of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The task forces are situated in key locations across Canada to conduct CAF continental operations.
JTFP Headquarters
JTFP has its headquarters at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. It is located in Her Majesty's Canadian Dockyard, near Victoria, B.C. The JTFP Commander also leads Maritime Forces Pacific. This is a formation of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Victoria Search and Rescue Region also falls under JTFP.
JTFP area of responsibility (AOR)
JTFP leads CAF operations in B.C. It also leads search and rescue in the AOR. The AOR for JTFP covers:
- the province of B.C.;
- its western maritime approach;
- its western air approach; and
- the northeastern quadrant of the Pacific Ocean.
Command and tasking authority
The JTFP Commander directs the CAF response anywhere in the AOR if help is requested. This applies to:
- any request for CAF intervention for disaster relief;
- any request for CAF support in critical incidents; and
- any request for search and rescue services.
A request for CAF help may come through/from:
- Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC);
- CJOC’s partners in operations; and
- provincial and territorial governments in the AOR.
The JTFP Commander has the authority to form mission-appropriate task forces. This includes tasking any and all CAF resources held in that AOR by the:
- Royal Canadian Navy;
- Canadian Army; and
- Royal Canadian Air Force.
JTFP operations
The CAF maintains a continuous watch of the AOR through JTFP. It does so to maintain full awareness of security and defence conditions in:
- British Columbia;
- the Pacific maritime approaches to Canada; and
- the pacific air approaches to Canada.
JTFP operations include:
- search and rescue operations;
- avalanche control under Op PALACI; and
- fisheries protection under Op DRIFTNET.
JTFP led Operation PODIUM in 2010. The CAF supported the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) during this mission. The RCMP led security for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver. The CAF sent 4,500 members from across Canada to B.C. Regular and Reserve Force members served. The security unit was known as "Joint Task Force Games." Op PODIUM was one of the largest domestic security operations in Canada’s history.