The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) on Emergency and Disaster Management Act regulations has concluded its first series of meetings, which focused on some of the primary responsibilities assigned to local governments under the Act. Key themes and issues raised by LGAC members are summarized below. These were also discussed at the EDMA in Action session at the 2024 UBCM Convention.
Background
The Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA) was introduced in fall 2023 with the aim of strengthening emergency management across the province. There are new and enhanced responsibilities for local governments, including many that will be brought into force by regulations.
Earlier this year, UBCM Executive formally requested the creation of a joint advisory committee to inform the development of EDMA regulations. The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness was supportive of this request, and the LGAC was established and held its first meeting in July 2024.
The LGAC membership includes 10 local government representatives, two from each area association, appointed by UBCM Executive. It is chaired by the Ministry and UBCM. The Committee’s purpose is to discuss key aspects of EDMA and provide input on the development of associated regulations.
Areas of discussion
Prior to the provincial election, LGAC held four meetings, discussing some of the key areas of interest and relevance to local governments.
- Risk assessments: EDMA requires local governments to conduct risk assessments for all potential hazards, and consider climate change, equity impacts, and Indigenous knowledge. LGAC highlighted the difficulty of completing assessments without clear guidance on what is required, and expressed concern about the potential impacts on property insurability if detailed risk assessments were published.
- Geographic scope of Regional District responsibilities: Regional districts have jurisdiction over unincorporated areas (many of which are rural and/or remote) and have relatively limited responsibilities or authority on Crown lands. LGAC opposed regional districts being responsible for risk assessments that included Crown land, and raised concerns about the liability and costs associated with managing risks on these lands. The LGAC discussed limiting risk assessments to the areas of highest value and providing flexibility on the scope or scale of assessment required.
- Coordination with Indigenous Governing Bodies: EDMA includes requirements intended to foster collaboration and coordination between local governments and Indigenous governing bodies (IGBs), including when developing risk assessments and emergency management plans. LGAC members highlighted the complexity of implementation and capacity constraints for all parties. When considering how these duties might be reflected in regulation, members expressed a preference for coordination through building on existing relationships with IGBs rather than adding regulatory requirements, and stressed the importance of guidance and funding to support effective consultation.
- Business Continuity Plans: EDMA requires local governments to prepare and maintain Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) to ensure that local governments continue to function, and essential services can be delivered during an emergency. Requirements are expected to be minimally prescriptive in the forthcoming regulations. LGAC members were informed that the Municipal Insurance Association of BC views BCPs as an important risk management tool and is exploring ways to support local governments to complete BCPs, including workshops and templates. It was noted that, while many local governments have informal plans to manage service disruptions, not all have formal BCPs, and some existing plans need updates. Members emphasized that BCPs be flexible in regulation and focus on continuity of government functions and critical services (e.g. water, public safety and environmental services), and stressed the importance of integrated planning that involves senior management from all areas and departments.
- Multijurisdictional Emergency Management Organizations: EDMA enables the establishment of Multijurisdictional Emergency Management Organizations (MJEMOs), which are voluntary partnerships intended to enable members to meet legislative requirements, such as risk assessments and emergency management plans, collectively. Members raised concerns about balancing the authority of MJEMOs with that of individual member entities, and expressed a preference for autonomy in managing emergency organizations. Members also expressed a desire for better guidance with respect to MJEMOs (e.g., examples and templates to guide the formation of MJEMO agreements) over more proscriptive regulatory mandates.
The LGAC intends to continue discussing these issues, as well as other relevant duties and provisions (e.g., emergency management plans) following the provincial election.
Broad themes
Throughout LGAC’s discussions, several broad themes emerged, in addition to the issues noted above. These themes were also discussed with the UBCM membership during the September 2024 UBCM Convention.
- Cost, capacity and scope of responsibilities: There is concern that the scope of responsibilities outlined in EMDA exceeds the expertise, human resources, and financial capacity available to local governments. While it was noted that capacity challenges are particularly acute for smaller communities, LGAC members stressed that all local governments will need additional funding from the Province to fulfill key responsibilities under the Act.
- Guidance and resources: Guidance documents, templates, and relevant risk assessment and emergency planning data will be essential for local governments to improve efficiency and address capacity issues. EMCR has committed to developing these resources, including a provincial-scale Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment report and related data. LGAC discussed training sessions to help local governments use these resources effectively, and suggested that guidance be adaptable to local contexts rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Next steps
LGAC’s mandate officially extends up to the end of 2025, with a focus on ensuring that the final EDMA regulations reflect local government input, and support UBCM members in their critical role of keeping communities safe. UBCM will continue to keep the membership updated on the LGAC’s progress and share further outcomes from these discussions through the Compass and other information channels.
Local governments with comments or questions regarding the Advisory Committee may contact Bhar Sihota, UBCM Policy Analyst.