The Rural Municipalities of Alberta Association (RMA) will be providing comments and input on provincial government plans to review and make amendments to the Emergency Management Act (EMA), says Al Kemmere.
A Mountain View County councillor, Kemmere is also the president of the RMA, which represents 69 rural municipalities.
The province has announced it is seeking input from stakeholder groups, including municipalities on a draft bill aimed at strengthening collaboration and clarifying roles and responsibilities in emergency situations such as floods and wildfires.
Input will be gathered starting in June, with draft legislation being introduced in the fall.
The proposed amendments to the EMA include additional direction for municipalities on training requirements, local emergency management plans and the use of incident command systems during emergencies.
The amendments would also provide the ability to create a new Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation that would clarify emergency management practices for municipalities to follow.
Other changes to the EMA would protect first responders by clarifying their liability if individuals refuse to comply with an evacuation order, and clarify rules on how disputes over compensation are handled when property is damaged by the emergency response.
“We will be consulted on it,” said Kemmere. “The large majority of municipalities already have these processes in place. This identifies the need to partner together with other municipalities and work with the province to ensure that the communication processes are in place.
“We will engage and be involved in it. We want to make sure that the programs are delivered effectively and efficiently. It’s got to work on both ends, on the provincial end and the municipal end.”
Shaye Anderson, minister of municipal affairs, said stakeholder consultation is vital to the EMA amendment process.
“In the face of past disasters our first responders have shown courage and bravery and our municipalities have pulled together to respond,” said Anderson. “The best way to protect Albertans from disasters is to be sure all of us are better prepared.
“I look forward to consulting on these proposed changes with the emergency management community to ensure that all levels of government are working together to protect Albertans.”
