Municipal Affairs and Environment
May 26, 2017

Provincial Government Hosts FPT Meeting on Emergency Management

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, today hosted a meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for emergency management in St. John’s. Ministers discussed how disasters pose an increasing threat to the safety and economic stability of communities and businesses and agreed to continue to work together on longer-term solutions to sustainable disaster recovery. These solutions include moving towards a more balanced approach to emergency management and focusing on disaster prevention and mitigation; this includes flooding in Atlantic Canada such as recent events in Mud Lake.

At the 2016 FPT meeting, ministers committed to enhancing the Emergency Management Framework for Canada, and this year, they approved and updated the framework. This is the third edition since it was first issued 10 years ago, and it consolidates collaboration relating to emergency management between federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Ministers also welcomed the recent decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Regulatory Policy to make it mandatory for wireless service providers to implement wireless public alerting by April 2018. This decision allows alerting authorities and their partners to work toward providing Canadians with public alerts on their mobile devices to help them take immediate action.

It was agreed to launch a pan-Canadian Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award to be introduced in the fall of 2017. This award will recognize recipients who have distinguished themselves through exemplary service and contributions to their respective fields.

Quote
“The significance of emergency preparedness is becoming even more critical, especially since we are seeing more severe impacts from natural disasters across the globe. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to working together with our federal, provincial, and territorial colleagues to enhance public safety and ensure we are all prepared to respond to emergencies in a timely and informed manner.”
Honourable Eddie Joyce
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment

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Learn more
Emergency Management Framework for Canada:
www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/mrgnc-mngmnt-frmwrk/index-en.aspx external link

Newfoundland and Labrador’s fire and emergency services: www.gov.nl.ca/fes/

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL external link and @MAE_GovNL external link

Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2017 05 26                              2:15 p.m.