Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Emergency Management Act.

Marginal note:Definitions

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“emergency management”

« gestion »

“emergency management” means the prevention and mitigation of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from emergencies.

“emergency management plan”

« plan de gestion des urgences »

“emergency management plan” means a program, arrangement or other measure

• (a) for dealing with an emergency by the civil population; or

• (b) for dealing with a civil emergency by the Canadian Forces in accordance with the National Defence Act.

“government institution”

« institution fédérale »

“government institution” means any department, branch, office, board, agency, commission, corporation or other body for the administration or affairs of which a minister of the Crown is accountable to Parliament.

“Minister”

« ministre »

“Minister” means the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

“provincial emergency”

« urgence provinciale »

“provincial emergency” means an emergency occurring in a province if the province or a local authority in the province has the primary responsibility for dealing with the emergency.

Marginal note:Ministerial responsibilities — general

3. The Minister is responsible for exercising leadership relating to emergency management in Canada by coordinating, among government institutions and in cooperation with the prov-inces and other entities, emergency management activities.

Marginal note:Responsibilities — Canada

• 4. (1) The Minister’s responsibilities under section 3 include

  • (a) establishing policies, programs and other measures respecting the preparation, maintenance, testing and implementation by a government institution of emergency management plans;

  • (b) providing advice to government institutions respecting the preparation, maintenance, testing and implementation of emergency management plans;

  • (c) analysing and evaluating emergency management plans prepared by government institutions;

  • (d) monitoring potential, imminent and actual emergencies and advising other ministers accordingly;

  • (e) coordinating the Government of Canada’s response to an emergency;

  • (f) coordinating the activities of government institutions relating to emergency management with those of the provinces — and supporting the emergency management activities of the provinces — and through the provinces, those of local authorities;

  • (g) establishing arrangements with each prov­ince whereby any consultation with its lieutenant governor in council with respect to a declaration of an emergency under an Act of Parliament may be carried out effectively;

  • (h) coordinating the provision of assistance to a province in respect of a provincial emergency, other than the provision of financial assistance and the calling out of the Canadian Forces for service in aid of the civil power under Part VI of the National Defence Act;

  • (i) providing assistance other than financial assistance to a province if the province requests it;

  • (j) providing financial assistance to a prov-ince if

    • (i) a provincial emergency in the province has been declared to be of concern to the federal government under section 7,

    • (ii) the Minister is authorized under that section to provide the assistance, and

    • (iii) the province has requested the assistance;

  • (k) participating, in accordance with Canada’s foreign relations policies, in international emergency management activities;

  • (l) establishing the necessary arrangements for the continuity of constitutional government in the event of an emergency;

  • (m) establishing policies and programs respecting emergency management;

  • (n) conducting exercises and providing education and training related to emergency management;

  • (o) promoting a common approach to emergency management, including the adoption of standards and best practices;

  • (p) conducting research related to emergency management;

  • (q) promoting public awareness of matters related to emergency management; and

  • (r) facilitating the authorized sharing of information in order to enhance emergency management.

• Marginal note:Other responsibilities

  (2) The Minister has any other responsibilities in relation to emergency management that the Governor in Council may specify.