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Emergency Preparedness Act

The Emergency Preparedness Act establishes the Government of Canada’s responsibilities in emergency situations. As well, it provides a mandate for all federal departments and agencies to develop programs to deal with unforeseen and potentially disastrous events.

Key elements of the Act:

• Establishes the responsibilities and functions of the minister responsible for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Establishes the emergency preparedness responsibilities of all federal ministers in their respective areas of accountability
• Recognizes the interests of the provinces and territories in relation to federal assistance provided during a provincial emergency
• Provides the legal basis for the Governor in Council to declare a provincial emergency to be of concern to the federal government, and to provide financial and other assistance requested by the affected province(s)

View the full Act on the Department of Justice Canada website: Emergency Preparedness Act. Also, note that the Act is currently under review to bring it up to date with current risks and emergency management practices.