Ontario Strengthening Emergency Preparedness
New legislation would ensure response plans are tailored to local needs and enshrine Ontario Corps in law
The Ontario government is taking action to protect communities and build a stronger and more resilient province by reintroducing the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025. The proposed legislation will enhance public safety and disaster response measures, including making Ontario Corps a key function of emergency responses in the province.
“Extreme weather events like the ice storm this spring are unfortunately becoming more frequent. Our legislation reflects the need to be more prepared in the event of an emergency,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “That’s why our government is recognizing the critical need for Ontario Corps, so they can be deployed at a moment’s notice to help protect families and build a stronger, safer and more resilient Ontario.”
Ontario Corps brings together experienced non-governmental partners and skilled volunteers to enhance on-the-ground emergency response that can be deployed quickly to support communities across the province. During the spring ice storm, Ontario Corps partners volunteered over 6,000 hours, delivering generators, providing 3,725 meals and food hampers, conducting over 4,100 wellness checks, providing tree-clearing services and supporting evacuation reception centres.
Following the establishment of the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response as a standalone ministry with a dedicated minister in March, this legislation, if passed, would enable a more effective, coordinated and comprehensive approach to provincial and community emergency management. The changes would prioritize community-led approaches that help municipalities design emergency management programs that reflect their unique needs and capacities.
Enhancing Ontario’s emergency management capacity is part of the government’s plan to build a stronger and more resilient province with the necessary tools in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people across the province.
Quick Facts
- The proposed Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025 is the first comprehensive update to Ontario’s emergency management legislation in more than 15 years.
- The legislation is informed by valuable feedback from partners, best practices in emergency management and lessons learned from past emergencies. The province engaged with more than 550 partners, including municipalities, First Nations communities and emergency management organizations. The ministry also received 91 written submissions on a publicly posted discussion guide.
- The legislation builds on the government’s Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan that outlines key actions the province is taking to ensure communities are safe, practiced and prepared before, during and after emergencies.
- Ontario is building a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters. The new state-of-the-art complex will be designed to support the province’s work to prepare for and respond to all types of disasters that will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. It will include dedicated training rooms and warehousing and aviation infrastructure and will be built to withstand all types of disasters including earthquakes, tornadoes and floods.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love