Whereas the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness EMCR released in December 2022 the new Emergency Support Services ESS Program Guide; And whereas less than sufficient broad-based meaningful consultation was undertaken including responsible local authorities under the current legislation and associated Indigenous Nations; And whereas the EMCR has committed to having multiple updates in the first year of release and yearly updates afterward noting that feedback can be provided to the ESS Program Office: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask that the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness proactively consult with local authorities and associated Indigenous Nations throughout the province as part of the commitment to provide regular updates to ensure practices are consistently reflected in its resources.
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness The Emergency Support Services ESS Program Guide was updated in December 2022 to better support ESS teams by providing access to accurate, current information about program practices. The Program Guide is considered a living document and will continue to be updated to reflect the evolution of ESS service delivery and wise practice. Following release of the Program Guide in 2022, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness EMCR received feedback from local authorities that identified further opportunities for improvements to the Program Guide, as well as concerns about how communities were engaged. To better understand and address these concerns, EMCR held engagement sessions across all six of EMCRs regions with local authorities and Indigenous governing bodies in May and June 2023. These engagement sessions resulted in updates to the Program Guide in October 2023. EMCR carried out further engagement on ESS throughout Fall 2023 and updates will be made to the Program Guide as needed. EMCR remains committed to continued collaboration with local authorities and Indigenous governing bodies.