Location names for hazardous material response initiative sites

Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and MP -Humber�St. Barbe, along with provincial ministers Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, and Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Justice, today announced the locations of nine Hazardous Materials Response Initiative (HMRI) sites made possible through funding jointly announced March 27 by the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. Minister Byrne made the announcement on behalf of Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence and Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness.

The nine sites, which will host Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and Radiological (CBRN) equipment emergency response trailers are Channel-Port Aux Basques, Corner Brook, St. Anthony, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Clarenville, Marystown, St. John's and Labrador City. An additional unit will be purchased and positioned as required by the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

This announcement follows through on our commitment and promise to continue to ensure the health, safety and security of all Canadians in the face of a changing world environment," said Minister Byrne. "These nine sites will better prepare Newfoundland and Labrador to respond to any CBRN threat or incident."

"These strategic locations were identified by the provincial Office of the Fire Commissioner as being the most strategically situated municipalities and which have the necessary human resources to handle this responsibility," said Minister Langdon. "The Fire Commissioner will continue to consult with municipal councils and local fire departments to discuss the responsibilities of the community and local fire department in participating in this initiative. Training will also be provided to all individuals who will be using the new equipment as the safety of first responders and the public is a priority."

"Due to the geography of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is impossible to have a two-hour response time for every area. The proposed sites, however, certainly cover the majority of the province with the exception of some isolated areas that will require an alternative response plan. In working with other emergency response groups, this initiative certainly counters a void that previously existed in our emergency response capabilities," said Minister Parsons.

Memorandum of Understanding agreements will be signed with each of the host municipalities as the equipment and training is made available. Units will be deployed in conjunction with appropriate training.

Through the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP) the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have jointly committed $939,000 towards purchasing specialized Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response equipment as part of the Hazardous Materials Response Initiative (HMRI).

The Government of Canada funding was identified in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

The Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness administers the JEPP on behalf of the Government of Canada.

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

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

2002 05 17                            12:40 p.m.