The government of Ontario has introduced the Emergency Management Modernization Act to better prepare the province for floods, wildland fires and other emergencies.
The proposed legislation aims to update and strengthen the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), ensuring a more effective, coordinated and comprehensive approach to provincial and municipal emergency prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery efforts, the province reported in a media release.
If passed, the new EMCPA amendments, which represent the first comprehensive updates in more than 15 years, would provide Emergency Management Ontario with a more enhanced role as the provinces central hub for coordinating provincial emergency management efforts, streamlining communication and the distribution of resources.
The proposed legislation also prioritizes community-led approaches, helping municipalities design emergency management programs that are fit to their unique needs and capacities.
Additionally, the process for municipalities to declare local emergencies would be clarified, including procedures for emergency declarations and requests for assistance.