The attention of Coast Guard employees was piqued when Prime Minister Mark Carney announced earlier this month that the reach, security mandate and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard would be integrated into NATO defence capabilities—but what that means exactly is not yet clear.

National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, Teresa Eschuk, says it’s a big concern for employees, many of whom have questions about what their future mandate and role will look like.

“Some of our members that have been in Coast Guard for a while, even some of the newer ones, are saying ‘this isn’t the Coast Guard we signed up for.'”

Eschuk says the union also wants to know what staffing and recruitment will be necessary to fulfil a new mandate, not to mention the new vessels that will be required.

“You can’t just build a vessel, or procure a vessel that easily,” says Eschuk. “As far as getting members to be able to staff…I mean, the Coast Guard, for a long time, has had a retention and recruiting problem,” largely due to the fact that many have been among the lowest paid in the public service.