The provincial government is expected to table new emergency management legislation this fall. In anticipation of the pending legislation, the BC Association of Emergency Managers and BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness are hosting a series of webinars open to local government representatives.
The webinars will provide information about the new emergency management legislation, including responsibilities assigned to local governments. The webinars will also include time for discussion of the information shared. Following the series of webinars, BCAEM intends to develop a report summarizing findings and recommendations.
The upcoming schedule of webinars includes:
- July 12, 2023: 2:00 – 3:00 PM re Response & Recovery
- July 26, 2023: 10:00 – 11:00 AM re Planning & Risk Assessment
- August 9, 2023: 2:00 – 3:00 PM re Agreements & Collaboration
- August 23, 2023: 10:00 – 11:00 AM re Consultation & Cooperation
- August 28, 2023: 6:30 – 8:00 PM re Reflection Session
A second engagement phase will likely be provided in the fall, focused on the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation.
The Emergency Program Act (EPA), British Columbia’s legislative framework for disaster and emergency management, outlines the responsibilities of local governments, provincial authorities and Crown corporations and the Province’s emergency management program. In 2019, the Province began a thorough review (including a co-development process with Indigenous partners) that will culminate this fall with the tabling of new legislation. A phased implementation is expected to begin soon after.
Following the introduction of new legislation, the Province will begin modernizing regulations, including the Local Authority Emergency Program Regulation, which includes a framework for local emergency management planning requirements.
In anticipation of new and enhanced local government responsibilities, UBCM and its members have continuously called on the Province to develop a long-term local government funding and support framework.