CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF PETAWAWA
BY-LAW 1309/19
BEING A BY-LAW TO ADOPT AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN AND TO MEET OTHER REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL PROTECTION ACT
WHEREAS under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9 (the “Act”), as amended, and Ontario Regulation 380/04 (the “Reg”), as amended, every municipality in the Province of Ontario is required to:
AND WHEREAS it is prudent that the emergency management program developed under the Act be in accordance with international best practices, including the five core components of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery;
AND WHEREAS the purpose of such a program is to help protect public safety, public health, the environment, critical infrastructure, and property during an emergency and to promote economic stability and a disaster resilient community;
NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF PETAWAWA ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
Emergency Management Program
Emergency Response Plan
3. The Emergency Response Plan, which has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Reg and international best practices, and which is attached hereto as Appendix “A” is hereby adopted (the “Plan”).
4. The Plan shall be reviewed annually by the CEMC and the Town’s Emergency Management Program Committee. The CEMC is authorized to make such administrative changes to the Plan as appropriate to keep the Plan current, such as personnel, organizational and contact information updates. Any significant revision to the body of the Plan shall be presented to Council for approval.
5. When an emergency exists but has not yet been declared to exist, Town employees and the Municipal Emergency Control Group may take such action under the Plan as may be required to protect property and the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town.
Community Emergency Management Coordinator
6. The Director of Planning and Development is hereby appointed as the primary community emergency management coordinator (the “CEMC”) responsible for the emergency management program for the Town including maintenance of the Plan, training, exercises, public education and such other duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Act and Reg.
7. The Deputy Clerk and Director of Public Works are hereby appointed as alternate CEMC’s to act in place of the primary CEMC in his/her absence.
Emergency Management Program Committee
8. The person from time to time holding the following positions in the municipality, or their designates, shall be members of the Emergency Management Program Committee:
a. Chief Administrative Officer;
b. CEMC and Alternate CEMC’s;
c. Director of Public Works;
d. Director of Community Services;
e. Treasurer;
f. Fire Chief;
g. Deputy Clerk;
h. Executive Assistant; and
i. Mayor or Deputy Mayor.
9. The CEMC is hereby appointed as chair of the Emergency Management Program Committee.
10. The Emergency Management Program Committee shall meet a minimum of twice annually and shall advise Council on the development and implementation of the municipality’s Emergency Management Program and shall review the Program annually.
Municipal Emergency Control Group
11. The persons from time to time holding the following positions in the municipality or their designates, shall be members of the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG):
a. Head of Council – Mayor;
b. Emergency Operations Centre Director – Chief Administrative Officer;
c. Emergency Information Officer – Executive Assistant;
d. Liaison Officer – Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Deputy Clerk;
e. Operations Section Chief- Fire Chief, Director Public Works, OPP Representative;
f. Planning Section Chief – Director of Planning and Development;
g. Logistics Section Chief- Director of Community Services; and
h. Finance and Administration Section Chief – Treasurer.
Emergency Operations Centre
12. A primary and an alternate Emergency Operations Centre have been established for use by the MECG in an emergency and with the appropriate technological and telecommunications systems to ensure effective communication in an emergency. The locations of the Emergency Operations Centre(s) are identified in the Plan.
Emergency Information Officer
13. The Town’s Executive Assistant is hereby appointed as the Emergency Information Officer for the municipality to act as the primary media and public contact for the municipality in an emergency. The Town’s Economic Development Officer will be appointed to act as the alternate Emergency Information Officer.
Administration
14. The Plan shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying at Town Hall, 1111 Victoria Street during regular business hours.
15. The Plan, or any amendments to the Plan, shall be submitted to the Chief, Emergency Management Ontario identified in the Act.
16. That Appendix “A” is deemed to form part of this by-law.
17. That By-law 396/07 be hereby repealed.
18. That this by-law shall come into force and take effect following third reading.
By-law read a first and second time this 16th day of December, 2019.
By-law read a third time and passed this 16th day of December, 2019.
Mayor
Damon eco
Deputy Clerk
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
APPENDIX “A” to By-law 1309/19
December 16, 2019
ALL ANNEXES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION.
The Town of Petawawa is committed to providing comprehensive safety and emergency information to all residents. If you require any of the pages offered in this document in an alternate format please contact the Town of Petawawa Clerk’s Department at 613 687 5536.
This plan has been prepared in collaboration with Emergency Management & Training Inc.
TOWN OF PETAWAWA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Table of Contents
| PART | PAGE | |
| 1: | INTRODUCTION. | 5 |
| 2: | AIM. | 6 |
| Purpose | ||
| 3: | AUTHORITY. | 7 |
| Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act | ||
| Ontario Regulation 380/04 | ||
| Council Approval | ||
| 4: | EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES. | 9 |
| Definition of an Emergency | ||
| Notification | ||
| Request for Assistance | ||
| Actions Prior to Declaration | ||
| Declaration of a Community Emergency | ||
| 5: | MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY CONTROL GROUP. | 12 |
| Incident Management System | ||
| Incident Management System Function Descriptions | ||
| Emergency Operations Centre | ||
| Composition of the Municipal Emergency Control Group | ||
| Municipal Emergency Control Group Responsibilities | ||
| Operating Cycle | ||
| 6: | EMERGENCY RESPONSE. | 21 |
| Command Section | ||
| Operations Section | ||
| Planning Section | ||
| Logistics Section | ||
| Finance/Administration Section | ||
| 7: | EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. | 42 |
| Emergency Management Planning Committee | ||
| Public Education | ||
| Risk Reduction | ||
| Testing of the Plan | ||
| 8: | POST EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. | 43 |
| Recovery and Post Emergency Evaluation | ||
| Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians | ||
| Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program |
ANNEX A
Emergency Notification Procedures and Contact List
ANNEX B
Declaration & Termination Forms
ANNEX C
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Logistics
ANNEX D
IMS Checklists
ANNEX E
IMS Forms
ANNEX F
Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) & Critical Infrastructure
ALL ANNEXES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
TOWN OF PETAWAWA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Emergencies are defined as situations or impending situations caused by forces of nature, a disease or other health risk, an accident or an intentional act that constitutes a danger of major proportions to life and property. They affect public safety, meaning the health, welfare and property, as well as the environment and economic health of the Town of Petawawa. The population of the Town of Petawawa is approximately 17,500.
In order to protect residents, businesses and visitors, the Town of Petawawa requires a coordinated emergency response by a number of agencies under the direction of the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG). These are distinct arrangements and procedures from the normal day-to-day operations carried out by emergency services.
The Incident Management System (IMS) has been adopted in this Emergency Response Plan to define the basic command structure and to identify roles and responsibilities to ensure effective management of an emergency. Every elected official, municipal department and agency must be prepared to carry out assigned responsibilities during an emergency. This Emergency Response Plan has been prepared to provide key officials, agencies and departments of the Town of Petawawa with important emergency response information related to:
In addition it is important that residents, businesses, and interested visitors be aware of its provisions. Copies of the Town of Petawawa Emergency Response Plan may be viewed at the Town Hall or on-line at www.petawawa.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Community Emergency Management Coordinator
Town of Petawawa
1111 Victoria Street
Petawawa, ON K8H 2E6
Phone: 613-687-5536
PART 2: AIM
The aim of this plan is to make provisions for the extraordinary arrangements and measures that may have to be taken to protect the health, safety, welfare, environment, and economic health of the residents, businesses, and visitors of the Town of Petawawa when faced with an emergency. It enables a centralized, controlled and coordinated response to emergencies in the Town of Petawawa, and meets the legislated requirements of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9, as amended.
PART 3: AUTHORITY
The legislation under which the Town of Petawawa and its employees are authorized to respond to an emergency are:
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act
The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9 states that:
“The head of Council of a municipality may declare that an emergency exists in the municipality or in any part thereof and may take such action and make such orders as he or she considers necessary and are not contrary to law to implement the emergency plan of the municipality and to protect property and the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the emergency area.”
Ontario Regulation 380/04
Regulation 380/04 came into effect on December 31, 2004. It describes the essential level emergency management standards for Ontario Municipalities. The specific municipal requirements are as follows:
Council Approval
Council approved the Emergency Management Program and Emergency Response Plan with the enactment of By-law 1309/19. By-law 1309/19 and the Emergency Response Plan have been filed with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management.
PART 4: EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Definition of an Emergency
The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9 defines an emergency as:
“a situation or an impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature, a disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or otherwise.”
By their very nature and magnitude, these emergency situations require a response that is different from the day-to-day operations of the municipality including fire, police, and emergency medical services. They require a coordinated response through a control group representing not only the three traditional front line services of police, fire, and ambulance, but all essential services and levels of government represented within the community. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) can be activated for any emergency or potential emergency for the purposes of managing an emergency, maintaining services to the community and supporting the emergency site.
Notification
Only a member of the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG), Mayor, or Deputy Mayor may initiate the notification procedure and in most instances this is to be done in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer. When a member of the MECG, with the authority to activate the MECG, receives a warning of a real or potential emergency, that member will immediately activate the emergency notification process, refer to Annex A, Emergency Notification Procedures and Contact List, giving the direction to initiate the notification of the MECG, or the members of the MECG that are deemed necessary to deal with the situation that exists at that time. The Mayor, CAO, Fire Chief, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning and Development Director of Community Services, Treasurer, Deputy Clerk and Executive Assistant, or their alternates will be notified. The member initiating the call must provide pertinent details to the emergency contact (e.g. a time and place for the MECG to meet) as part of the notification procedure and record the date and time that MECG members were contacted. If deemed appropriate, the individual MECG members may initiate their own internal notification procedures of their staff. And where a threat of an impending emergency exists; any member of the MECG may initiate the notification procedure and place MECG members on standby.
Standby alerting is the notification of MECG members to advise them of the potential of an incident so that they can closely monitor the situation and be prepared to attend the EOC should the situation warrant.
Request for Assistance
Assistance may be requested from the County of Renfrew at any time by contacting the Warden or County CAO. The request shall not be deemed to be a request that the County assumes authority and control of the emergency. If locally available resources, including those which might be available from bordering municipalities and/or County sources, are insufficient to meet emergency requirements, then assistance may be requested from the Province of Ontario. A request for assistance is directed through contact made to the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management via the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) by the Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC). The Emergency Notification Procedures and Contact List, including contact numbers for requesting assistance is contained in Annex A.
Actions Prior to Declaration
When an emergency exists but has not yet been declared to exist, employees of the Municipality may take such action(s) under this Emergency Response Plan as may be required to protect property and the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Petawawa.
Declaration of a Community Emergency
The Mayor, or in the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor or a Councillor in order of seniority, is responsible for declaring an emergency. This decision is usually made in consultation with other members of the MECG.
Upon declaring an emergency, the Mayor (or designate) will notify:
A declaration of an emergency may be terminated at any time by:
PART 5: MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY CONTROL GROUP
Incident Management System
The direction and control structure for the Town of Petawawa emergency operations is based upon the Incident Management System (IMS). IMS is an internationally recognized, standardized emergency response system which defines the basic command structure and the roles and responsibilities required for the effective management of an emergency. IMS is endorsed by OFMEM and used by the County of Renfrew. The benefits of using the IMS include: enhanced technical and functional interoperability; integrated communications; and standard terminology.
IMS consists of five key functions:
Figure 1. IMS key functions.
Figure 2 (on the following page) provides a summary of how the Town of Petawawa has aligned its emergency operations for consistency with the Incident Management System.
For greater certainty, wherever a position is identified in the Emergency Response Plan it shall also be understood to include the position’s designate or alternate.
Town of Petawawa IMS Based Emergency Operations Within the EOC.
| IMS FUNCTION | DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTION | RESPONSIBILITY | IMS TITLE |
| Command | Has overall authority for the control and direction of the emergency response, within the EOC, and resources for which they are responsible. | CAO, with strategic direction from the Mayor (policy function) | EOC Director |
| Command has three supporting functions: | Risk Management | As assigned | Safety Officer |
| Liaison: Coordination of various agencies, e.g., School boards RCDHU Provincial ministries OFMEM Red Cross OPP | CEMC | Liaison Officer | |
| Emergency Information Officer | Executive Assistant | Emergency Information Officer | |
| Operations | Coordinates the operational requirements of the response, directs resources and equipment as required, to fulfill emergency management requirements. | Fire Chief Director of Public Works Medical Officer of Health Utilities OPP EMS | Operations Section Chief |
Figure 2. IMS and associated Town positions.
You will note from the EOC Organizational Chart that depending upon the type of emergency and the staff that are available to respond the Operations, Planning, and Logistics Section Chief may vary.
Town of Petawawa EOC Organizational Chart
Figure 3. Organizational Chart
Incident Management System (IMS) Function Descriptions
The Incident Management System (IMS) is a model for command, control, and coordination of an emergency. It provides a way of coordinating the efforts of agencies and resources as they work together toward safely responding to an emergency incident. IMS consists of five key functions: Command (EOC Management), Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. The following provides a brief description of each function.
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) can be activated for any emergency for the purposes of managing an emergency, maintaining services to the community and supporting the emergency site. For additional information about EOC logistics, refer to Annex C.
Once the Notification of emergency personnel and the manning of the EOC has been completed and the decision to implement the Emergency Response Plan has been made, the following steps shall be taken:
The Mayor will be given a personal briefing of the emergency by the CAO who will establish those controls as deemed necessary to deal with the emergency. A decision for a Declaration of Emergency will be made based on the advice of the MECG. Upon the Declaration of an Emergency by the Mayor, the CAO will assume the role of EOC Director and take control of the emergency response operations within the EOC. The Emergency Site Manager (ESM) has control and coordination of the site and the on-site emergency response elements.
Command within the EOC and communications will be structured with the EOC Director working through the MECG and supported by the Liaison Officer (CEMC). Communications will be ongoing between the EOC and the ESM at the emergency site. Public information will be released as approved by the EOC Director and will include alerts, instructional orders and general situational messages. Any public statements will be coordinated and in consultation with the Mayor.
Composition of the Municipal Emergency Control Group
The emergency response from the EOC will be directed and controlled by the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG), a group of officials who are responsible for coordinating the provision of the essential services necessary to minimize the effects of an emergency on the community.
The MECG consists of the following officials:
The MECG may function with only a limited number of persons depending upon the emergency. While the MECG may not require the presence of all the people listed as members (above), all members of the MECG must be notified. The CAO (EOC Director) will chair meetings of the MECG.
The MECG may invite additional representatives, advisers, or subject matter experts as required or as appropriate based on the type of emergency. These participants may include:
Municipal Emergency Control Group Responsibilities
The members of the MECG are likely to be responsible for the following actions or decisions:
Operating Cycle
During a Declared Emergency, the MECG will follow an operating cycle that is set in motion in the early stages of the emergency and developed by the EOC Director. Members of the MECG will gather at regular intervals to inform each other of actions taken, problems encountered and receive new duties assigned. The EOC Director will establish the frequency of meetings and agenda items. Meetings will be kept as brief as possible, thus allowing members to carry out their individual responsibilities. The Logistics Officer will maintain the status board and maps which will be prominently displayed and kept up to date. It is the responsibility of the Community Emergency Management Coordinator to ensure accurate minutes are kept of all meetings within the EOC.
PART 6: EMERGENCY RESPONSE
COMMAND SECTION
The Command Function has overall authority for the control and direction of the emergency response and resources required to manage the emergency.
The Command Section comprises the following positions:
Mayor or Deputy Mayor
The Mayor or Deputy Mayor performs the Policy Function which is to provide emergency policy and direction to the Town’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The Mayor has the following responsibilities:
Chief Administrative Officer
The CAO (or designate) is the EOC Director for the Town of Petawawa. The EOC Director has the following responsibilities:
Risk Management
Town of Petawawa MECG members all serve as Risk Management support to the Command Section. The EOC Director will name a Safety Officer if deemed appropriate. The Safety Officer’s support function has the following responsibilities:
MECG Members
Liaison
The Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC), or alternate, serves as the Liaison Officer support function of the Command Section. In this position the CEMC acts as the primary contact for assisting or supporting organizations and has the following responsibilities:
Emergency Information Officer
The Executive Assistant acts as the Emergency Information Officer. As a support function to the Command Section, the Emergency Information Officer has the following responsibilities:
OPERATIONS SECTION
The Operations Section coordinates the operational requirements of the response and directs resources and equipment, as required, to fulfill emergency management requirements.
The Operations Section may be staffed by the following positions, according to the requirements of the emergency:
Fire Chief
As a member of the Operations Section, the Fire Chief has the following responsibilities:
Director of Public Works
As a member of the Operations Section, the Director of Public Works has the following responsibilities:
External Agencies
Ontario Provincial Police Representative
The Ontario Provincial Police representative is responsible for:
(Responsibilities may change depending on the nature of the emergency)
Renfrew County Paramedic Services
The Renfrew County Paramedic Service Chief or delegate is responsible for:
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
The Medical Officer of Health or delegate is responsible for:
Emergency Site Manager (ESM)
The lead agency involved will appoint the Emergency Site Manager (ESM).
PLANNING SECTION
The Planning Section gathers information critical to the incident in order to develop, disseminate and evaluate incident action plans.
The Planning Section may be staffed by the following positions, according to the requirements of the emergency:
Director of Planning and Development
The Director, Planning and Development is the Planning Section Chief. The Planning Section Chief has the following responsibilities:
Chief Building Official
As a member of the Planning Section, the Chief Building Official has the following responsibilities:
Economic Development Officer
As a member of the Planning Section, the Economic Development Officer has the following responsibilities:
LOGISTICS SECTION
The Logistics Section arranges for and coordinates all material, services, equipment and resources required to manage and resolve the emergency. The Logistics Section tracks usage and current locations of these items.
The Logistics Section may be staffed by the following positions, according to the requirements of the emergency:
Director Community Services
The Director of Community Services is the Logistics Section Chief. The Logistics Section Chief has the following responsibilities:
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION SECTION
The Treasurer is the Finance/Administration Section Chief. This section performs administrative, financial and staffing duties specific to the emergency, including keeping track of incident-related costs. Additional responsibilities are as follows:
Relationships between Sections and Various Agencies
Relationship between Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) and Emergency Site Manager (ESM)
Depending on the nature of the emergency, and once the ESM has been assigned, the MECG relationship with the Emergency Site Manager is to offer support with equipment, staff and other resources, as required. The MECG will also ensure that the rest of the community maintains municipal services.
Relationship between Emergency Site Manager (EMS), and command and control structures of emergency responders
The senior representative for each emergency responder (police, fire, EMS, public works) at the site should consult with the ESM, so as to offer a coordinated and effective response. Regular briefings should be held at the site and chaired by the ESM, so as to establish the manner and process to the emergency.
Relationship between the Town of Petawawa and the County of Renfrew
Some services are provided by the County of Renfrew to the Town of Petawawa. In the event of an emergency it is important that the two levels of local government operate in a cohesive, planned manner. This plan contemplates the sharing of resources in order to provide the residents of the Town of Petawawa and the County of Renfrew with an effective, planned and cooperative approach to emergency management. It is recognized that in the event of a large scale emergency involving several or all of the 17 area municipalities, that the ability of the County of Renfrew to provide staff to all 17 EOC’s and the County EOC may become strained, in which case the local area municipality may receive assistance from those agencies by communications link, rather than a direct presence in the local EOC.
PART 7: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Emergency preparedness includes those activities that result in an operational capability that provides an effective emergency response. Responsibility for the coordination and implementation of these activities within the Emergency Response Plan lies with the Community Emergency Management Coordinator.
Emergency Management Program Committee
The Emergency Management Program Committee is comprised of the senior management team or staff designated by them. Meetings and documentation from this Committee will be the responsibility of the CEMC. The Committee will meet at least once a year to review the Emergency Response Plan and make recommendations for its amendment.
It is the responsibility of the CEMC to ensure the review, and if applicable, the amendment of the Emergency Response Plan document. All names, phone numbers, and addresses contained within the Emergency Response Plan will be updated in January of each year.
Public Education
Public education will be coordinated by the CEMC. It will focus on:
Risk Reduction
Risk reduction proposals for the various hazards the Municipality is faced with should be included in the plan review and update procedures accordingly. This will be done through Emergency Management Program Committee as convened by the CEMC and completed on an annual basis.
Testing Of the Plan
The plan will be tested annually to rate overall effectiveness and provide training to the MECG. Revisions will be based on the results of the exercise. The Emergency Management Program Committee shall review the Emergency Response Plan for the Town of Petawawa and ensure training and exercises are carried out. Training and exercises will occur annually and include:
PART 8: POST EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Recovery and Post Emergency Evaluation
An emergency is considered over when the threat to life and property no longer exists and the Municipality has returned to some degree of normalcy. This includes the return of evacuees to their homes or, if repairs or reconstruction need to be completed, to temporary shelters. The emergency is not considered over until key services (hydro, sewer, water and gas) have been restored, either permanently or improvised on a short-term basis.
Normalization may begin even though a Declared Emergency is still in place. If certain areas of the emergency site are determined to be safe, cleanup and a controlled return of evacuees may commence if it does not interfere with ongoing operations.
The CEMC, working through the Emergency Management Program Committee, will prepare an evaluation of the community’s emergency response effort with recommendations for improvement. This report, known as an After Action Report, will include a comprehensive review of actions taken, personnel involved, fatalities, property damage, cost estimates and any long-term effects from the emergency. It will also look at the effectiveness of the notifications, communication, overall preparedness and any items within the Emergency Response Plan that require review and amendment. Much of this information will be brought forth in a debriefing of the Municipal Emergency Control Group and the review of the event logs for all members of the MECG.
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians is designed to provide financial assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster that causes costly, widespread damage to eligible private property. The Minister of Municipal Affairs may activate the program for areas affected by natural disasters. Homeowners, tenants, small owner-operated businesses, farmers, and not-for-profit organizations within an area for which the program has been activated can apply to be reimbursed for basic, essential costs related to the disaster. The program does not provide assistance for costs covered by insurance.
Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program
The Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program helps municipalities that have incurred extraordinary costs because of a natural disaster. Eligible expenses may include capital costs to repair public infrastructure or property to pre-disaster condition, and operating costs over and above regular budgets that are necessary to protect public health, safety or access to essential services. Costs are not eligible if they are covered by insurance or if they would have been incurred anyway had the natural disaster not occurred.
Program activation and delivery
The Minister of Municipal Affairs makes the decision to activate the program based on evidence demonstrating that the event meets the eligibility criteria for Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance. The minister considers both the cause and extent of damage, along with the initial claim and supporting documentation provided by the municipality. If the program is activated, the province and municipality enter into a grant agreement. All payments under the grant agreement are based on eligible costs actually incurred by the municipality as a result of the natural disaster.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for the program, a municipality must have:
