The Cabinet on January 28th, 1947, as part of a comprehensive meteorological programme, approved the provision and operation by Canada of one weather ship in the North Atlantic as Canada's share of the operation of Ocean Weather Station "B". Weather Station "B" is a part of a network of North Atlantic Weather Stations established by ICAO agreement and is the joint responsibility of Canada and the United States. Accordingly, the Royal Canadian Navy has provided one frigate, the St. Stephen, especially converted for the purpose, with the meteorological staff on board supplied by the Department of Transport. This ship has been in operation since November, 1947, and has been able to maintain a schedule of approximately 21 days out of each 50 on station.

2. The United States has not yet contributed a ship toward the operation of Weather Station "B" and has expressed the opinion that one ship cannot be considered to constitute 50% of the operation. It is the U.S. view that three ships are required to operate one Station.

3. As indicated, the St. Stephen has not been able to spend the full 50% of the time on station, though if time en route within the general area is taken into account, the period is not far short of the full 50%. However, when necessity for periodic refits and major repairs is taken into account, the Royal Canadian Navy is of the opinion that approximately 2.5 ships are required to man each Weather Station. It is apparent that, on either basis, this effort cannot be divided equally between the two countries without financial adjustment.

4. At the time Cabinet approved a Weather Ship for the North Atlantic, approval was given also to the provision of a Weather Ship in the Pacific, west of Vancouver Island, on the understanding that the United States would be asked to contribute a similar ship; the two ships to comprise one complete Weather Station. This proposal was conveyed to the United States, who have not yet agreed to provide the second ship; though there have been indications that, from a meteorological point of view, it would be looked on with favour.

5. A report of the Interdepartmental Meteorological Committee on this matter was considered by the Cabinet Defence Committee on November 21st, 1947, at which time it was agreed that the Canadian contribution to the operation of a North Atlantic Weather Station continue to be one ship but be reviewed in the light of further experience. The Interdepartmental Meteorological Committee is now informed that a Regional ICAO Conference, to deal with requirements in the North Pacific, will be held in July next. It is noted that a Weather Station in the Pacific, west of Vancouver Island, would be of much more direct value to Canada than the Atlantic Weather Station. It is noted, further, that the operation of a complete station in one ocean would be more economical and efficient than the operation of two half-stations in two oceans.

6. The Interdepartmental Meteorological Committee therefore recommends that the Canadian representative at the Northern Pacific Regional ICAO Conference be empowered to propose:

(a) that an ocean Weather Station be established in the Pacific in a position approximately 500 miles west of Vancouver Island; and

(b) that Canada undertake the operation of this Pacific Weather Station on the understanding that the United States would undertake the full operation of Weather Station "B" in the North Atlantic and that Canada' s obligations toward the operation of both the North Atlantic and North Pacific Ocean Weather Stations would thereby be fulfilled.⁹

W.W. BEAN

⁹Approuvées par le Cabinet le 7 juillet./Approved by Cabinet on July 7.