About the Project
On October 3, 2023, the Province introduced the Emergency and Disaster Management Act which seeks to align British Columbia’s approach to emergency management with the UN Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and reflects several key policy shifts. These include an acknowledgment of the linkage between climate change and increasing emergencies, all four phases of emergency management – mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery – and recognition of the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Province has released a technical paper “B.C.’s Modernized Emergency Management Legislation: A New Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Response, and Recovery” that provides an overview of the main policy shifts. With the introduction of the new statute, new regulations are needed to align with the modern principles and approach to emergency management.
Post-emergency financial assistance
Under the current Emergency Program Act, regulations set out a framework for providing financial assistance (commonly referred to as “disaster financial assistance” or “DFA”) to restore uninsurable losses that are essential to homes, livelihoods, or communities. The program is not designed to cover all losses; rather, it supports the reestablishment of basic essentials.
Financial assistance is not available for all emergencies or disasters. For DFA to apply, the government must declare an event as being “eligible” before applications for financial assistance can be made. Damages submitted must qualify according to the regulation. The increased frequency and severity of climate-related events over the last several years has led to a steady rise in applications for financial assistance and has increased the complexity of those applications. As a result of these trends, and the age of the regulation, the regulatory framework needs a full re-examination to ensure it meets the needs of British Columbians. Reimagining how the government provides financial assistance aligns with the fourth priority of the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which speaks to building back better in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
Local authority emergency management regulations
Under the new legislation, there are several requirements for local authorities related to emergency planning that could be further detailed through regulation including:
- clear requirements for risk assessments, emergency management plans, and business continuity plans;
- a framework for multijurisdictional emergency management organizations; and
- requirements to consult and cooperate with Indigenous governing bodies