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Emergency Management Planning

Natural disasters, pandemics, cyber incidents and terrorism can all cause emergencies in Canada. Emergencies can quickly escalate in scope and severity, cross jurisdictional lines and take on international dimensions. Emergency Management can save lives, preserve the environment and protect property by raising the understanding of risks and contributing to a safer, prosperous, sustainable, disaster resistant and resilient society in Canada.

Emergency Management is a core responsibility of the Government of Canada and a collective responsibility of all federal government institutions. This is why Public Safety Canada is taking steps to promote a coordinated approach and more uniform structure to the management of emergencies by providing guidance to federal government institutions on how to develop an emergency management plan. A coordinated approach to emergency management planning will strengthen the Government of Canada’s capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from major disasters and other emergencies.

The Emergency Management Planning Guide supports federal institutions in meeting their responsibilities under the Emergency Management Act to prepare and maintain mandate-specific emergency management plans. The Guide provides the framework for federal government institutions to undertake mandate-specific all-hazards risk assessments and planning activities within all four integrated functions of emergency management:

The Emergency Management Planning Guide

The Emergency Management Planning Guide supports the implementation of the Federal Policy for Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Act (2007). The Guide provides step-by-step instructions of the planning process across the four pillars of Emergency Management Planning.

Emergency Management Planning Guide 2010–2011

All-Hazards Risk Assessment

Effective Emergency Management Planning includes the integration of mandate-specific all-hazards risk assessment as the planning premise. The All-Hazards Risk Assessment (AHRA) will help identify, analyze and prioritize the full range of potential non-malicious and malicious threats. The process takes into account vulnerabilities associated with specific threats, identifies potential consequences should a threat be realized, and considers means to mitigate the risks.

Conduct All-Hazards Risk Assessment

Public Safety Canada’s Resources

The EM Planning Guide is a key tool designed to help federal institutions meet their obligations in respect to the management of emergencies. Additional information and tools have been developed to support federal institutions.