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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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February
2006
Volume
10 - Number 1 |
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Canadian Government Emergency Management Organizations By: C. Gabriela Ubay Canada has established an Emergency Management System, which was developed to respond to all types of emergencies including: floods, earthquakes, ice storms and other severe weather events, as well as toxic spills and other public health emergencies. The Canadian Government has provincial and territorial emergency management organizations (EMOs) in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. The EMOs have a key role in coordinating emergency planning, response, and recovery including: Emergency Management, Consequence Management, Community Programs, Crisis Management, and Emergency/Disaster Response. The responsibility for the EMOs is to develop and coordinate provincial program to ensure that the government is prepared for emergencies and disasters along with plans that describe how to respond and recover from these events. EMOs are task to manage disaster recovery programs. EMOs develop and maintain standards for disaster services training and they administer their disaster services training grant program. EMOs aid the governmental departments develop and test their Business Continuity plans. Additionally, EMOs coordinate the provincial response during a major emergency or disaster. EMOs work with the federal government, provincial government departments and other organizations to develop and maintain a provincial emergency response plans. EMOs coordinate and direct provincial government counter-terrorism emergency planning and preparedness. Also, some EMO assist municipalities, industry and First Nations communities to be prepared for emergencies or disasters. (See EMO’s references for additional information) The Canadian Government works in coordination with private and volunteer organizations to effectively manage major emergencies. The local officials are the first to respond to the emergencies. The local officials are hospitals, fire departments, police and municipalities. If the local officials need assistance, they request it from the provincial or territorial EMO. The EMO subsequently request assistance from the Canadian Government if the emergency exceeds their resource capabilities. The Canadian Government manages emergencies via the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) office. The PSEPC has the responsibility to develop and implement the federal policies for emergency management. The PSEPC handles the following areas of emergency management: critical infrastructure protection, cyber security, disaster mitigation, emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. PSEPC works in coordination with EMOs. PSEPC manages and maintains the National Support Plan, which establishes structure and procedures for the coordination of Canadian Government support when responding to assistance requests from provincial, territorial or U.S. governments. The Canadian Government has prepared the National Emergency Plan, the National Emergency Arrangements for Public Information, the National Earthquake Support Plan, the Counter Terrorism Plan Consequence Management Arrangements and the Space Object Re-entry Plan. The Canadian Government continuously updates the national emergency plans and ensures that all the necessities are prepared to support the response efforts of the EMOs. The Canadian Government is an advocate of public awareness campaigns that provide individuals with the information needed to become better prepared for an emergency. The Canadian Government produces a series of self-help advice broachers offering information on becoming better prepared and recovering in the event of an emergency. References and Additional information: Provincial and territorial emergency management organizations (EMOs) across Canada: - Alberta: www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/ema_index.htm - British Columbia: www.pep.bc.ca/ - Manitoba: www.gov.mb.ca/gs/memo/index.html - New Brunswick: www.gnb.ca/cnb/emo-omu/index-e.asp - Newfoundland and Labrador: www.mpa.gov.nl.ca/mpa/emo.html - Northwest Territories: www.maca.gov.nt.ca/safety/emergency_organization.html - Nova Scotia: www.gov.ns.ca/emo/ - Nunavut: www.nss.gc.ca/sar_directory/orgDetails_e.asp?org_id=550 - Ontario: www.mpss.jus.gov.on.ca/english/pub_security/emo/about_emo.html - Prince Edward Island: www.gov.pe.ca/commcul/emo/index.php3 - Québec : www.msp.gouv.qc.ca/secivile/index_en.asp - Saskatchewan: www.cps.gov.sk.ca/Safety/emergency/default.shtm - Yukon: www.community.gov.yk.ca/emo/index.html Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness in Canada; www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/fact_sheets/general/EM_can_emerg_man_sys_e.asp Emergency Preparedness Week; www.emergencypreparednessweek.ca/risks_e.shtml The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (CCEP); www.ccep.ca/ Canadian Non-government Emergency Management Organizations; http://epix.hazard.net/ngo.html |