Province Seeks Input on Modernizing Emergency Program Act

To gather input on proposed legislative changes, the Province is releasing a discussion paper for comment, outlining the proposed direction for modernized emergency management legislation. Individuals or organizations can provide their feedback (the Surrey Board of Trade will be submitting a response paper) until January 31, 2020, on proposed legislative changes that would:

1. Encompass all stages of emergency management — mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery

2. Reflect a shift from disaster response to managing and reducing disaster risk

3. Include an all-ofsociety approach where emergency management is a shared responsibility of individuals, governments, communities and private and non-profit sectors

4. Further reconciliation efforts by recognizing First

Nations as partners in emergency management

5. Put safety first, with the protection of life, health and safety being paramount

6. Make sure decisions made under the act and its regulations are transparent

7. Include a funding mechanism that is responsive, flexible and disciplined

8. Ensure the act is inclusive and considers the needs of vulnerable citizens