NLIS 10
March 27, 2002
(Environment)

 

Funding announced for specialized equipment for
Newfoundland and Labrador first responders

Gerry Byrne, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) and MP for Humber/St. Barbe along with provincial ministers, Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, and Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Justice, today announced that the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have jointly committed $939,000 towards purchasing specialized Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response equipment. Minister Byrne made the announcement on behalf of Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence and Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness, as part of the Hazardous Materials Response Initiative (HMRI).

In its December 2001 Budget the Government of Canada earmarked $5 million in each of fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 to enhance community response capacity against CBRN-related emergencies. The funding is being made available through the Government of Canada�s Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP) with 75 per cent of project funding coming from the Government of Canada and 25 per cent of project funding coming from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The funding of this Joint Emergency Preparedness Program project is a clear demonstration of the ongoing Government of Canada commitment to increasing our national and provincial capacity for preventing and responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats and emergencies," said Minister Byrne. "This announcement follows through on our promise to continue to ensure the health, safety and security of all Canadians in the face of a changing world environment."

In its most recent provincial budget, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador re-affirmed its funding commitment to fund the Hazardous Materials Response Initiative.

"Firefighters and other emergency response personnel have an essential role during a crisis," said Minister Langdon. "These individuals range from career staff to volunteers, and ensuring their safety and ability to ultimately protect the public is important to this government."

"September 11 reinforced that Newfoundland and Labrador is strategically located and that funding this initiative is essential," said Minister Parsons. "The enhanced CBRN capability will further enhance those actions and initiatives being carried out by our security forces."

The provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner will directly administer the Hazardous Materials Response Initiative, which will include the establishment of eight to 10 regional response teams at critical locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. These response teams will be provided with the necessary equipment and training to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.

Through JEPP, the federal government contributes to, or jointly undertakes with the provinces and territories, emergency preparedness projects to enhance Canada�s capability to respond and recover from emergencies. The funding for this initiative is provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

The Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (OCIPEP) administers the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program on behalf of the Government of Canada.

For more information on JEPP and/or OCIPEP, please visit: www.ocipep-bpiepc.gc.ca

Media contact:
Len LeRiche, Government of Canada, Regional Director (OCIPEP), (709) 772-5522
Media Relations, Government of Canada, OCIPEP, HQ, (613) 991-7035
Lynn Hammond, Newfoundland and Labrador, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983

2002 03 27                          5:20 p.m.


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