Emergency management legislation in effect

Last updated on November 13, 2025

The content of this page has changed to reflect what parts of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act are in effect. Information and resources previously linked here are now posted on our legislation page under additional resources.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act (the Act) and the Emergency and Disaster Management Regulation (EDMR) give the Province and local authorities legal authority to use emergency powers. They also outline obligations that must be met, actions that must be performed, and include provisions used across all emergency management phases.

While most provisions of the Act are now law, some features will only become functional once necessary regulations are completed.

This information is provided for convenience and guidance only. It is not a replacement for the Act or legal advice. These tables list key provisions that are currently in effect and those that will become functional after regulations are made. They are not exhaustive and do not include minor technical components.

Subscribe to this page for updates. If you have additional questions, please contact EMCR.PolicyandLegislation@gov.bc.ca.

Indigenous governing bodies

In alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Act recognizes the principle that the right to Indigenous self-government includes authority to make laws in relation to emergency management. This principle in the Act reflects the Province’s respect for First Nations jurisdiction and a rights-based approach to First Nations decision-making in emergency management.

Consistent with the provisions of modern treaties, the Act includes the Nisg̱a’a Nation and Treaty First Nations as local authorities.

Provincial powers and requirements

The “provincial administrator” is a provincial statutory decision maker designated by the minister. This role is currently filled by the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Response Division of the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, with other ministry officials authorized to exercise powers and perform duties of the provincial administrator consistent with their roles.

Provisions in effect
Entity	Topic Area	Component	Reference
Minister	General	General powers of the minister (e.g., a power to establish standards, make payments for taking emergency measures)	Part 2 – Division 1
EMCR Provincial Administrator	General	The role and duties of the provincial emergency management organization (i.e., the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness) and the provincial administrator	Part 2 – Division 2
Province	General Indigenous Partnership	Power to enter into a multijurisdictional emergency management organization	Section 21
Minister	General	Power to enter into emergency measures agreements	Part 2 – Division 4
Provincial Administrator	Response	Powers relating to authorizing public safety providers, deploying volunteers, and establishing standards to be followed	Part 2 – Division 5 EDMR Sections 4 and 5
Minister	General Indigenous Partnership	Power to enter into different types of agreements with Indigenous governing bodies	Part 3
Provincial Administrator	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirement to prepare, maintain and implement a comprehensive province-wide emergency management plan and to consult and cooperate with Indigenous governing bodies on that plan	Sections 39(1)(a) and 41
Provincial Administrator	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirement to make risk assessments completed by lead ministers and the comprehensive emergency management plan publicly available	Section 39(4) EDMR Section 6.1
Ministers	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirements for ministers to prepare and maintain risk assessments, emergency management plans, and business continuity plans for specific hazards	Part 4 – Divisions 2 and 3 EMDR Sections 9 - 11
Minister Lieutenant Governor in Council	Response	Powers related to declaring a state of provincial emergency	Part 5 – Division 1
Lieutenant Governor in Council	Recovery	Powers related to declaring a provincial recovery period	Part 5 – Division 2
Minister Provincial Administrator	Response Recovery	Requirements to consider emergency management plans before taking any response or recovery action; powers to coordinate efforts or require others to take response and recovery actions	Part 5 – Division 3
Minister	Response	Minister response powers, (e.g., evacuations, travel and business restrictions)	Part 5 – Division 4
Lieutenant Governor in Council	Response Recovery	Lieutenant Governor in Council response and recovery powers	Part 5 – Divisions 5 and 6
Minister, Provincial Administrator	Response Recovery Indigenous Partnership	Requirements to consult, engage and cooperate with Indigenous governing bodies before taking certain response and recovery actions	Part 5 – Division 7
Minister	Response Recovery	Reporting requirements (e.g., following the use of response or recovery powers, and following a state of provincial emergency)	Part 5 – Division 8
Minister	Response Recovery	Power to restrict a local authority’s exercise of response or recovery powers	Section 104
Province	General	Requirements on information sharing, confidentiality, and use of Indigenous knowledge	Part 9 – Division 2

Local authority powers and requirements

Local authorities are defined in the Act as municipalities, regional districts, the Nisg̱a’a Nation, and Modern Treaty Nations. In the table below, references to local governments pertain to municipalities and regional districts only.

Provisions in effect
Entity	Phase	Component	Reference
Local Authorities	General Indigenous Partnership	General powers of a local authority, including the requirement to establish an emergency management organization and its purpose, and powers to designate authority or enter into a multijurisdictional emergency management organization.	Part 2 – Division 3
Local Authorities	Response	Ability to request ministry assistance with coordinating, deploying, or authorizing the deployment of volunteers in response to a critical incident or an emergency	Section 32
Local Authorities	Response	Powers related to declaring states of local emergency	Part 6 – Division 1
Local Authorities	Recovery	Powers related to declaring local recovery periods	Part 6 – Division 2
Local Authorities	Response Recovery	Requirements to consider emergency management plans before taking any response or recovery action, and to coordinate efforts; power for minister to restrict exercises of power	Part 6 – Division 3
Local Authorities	Response	Local authority response powers	Part 6 – Division 4
Local Authorities	Response Recovery	Requirement to consult and coordinate with other local authorities	Section 108
Nisga’a Nation Modern Treaty Nations	Response	Power for the head of the Nisga’a Nation or Modern Treaty Nation to do all acts and implement all procedures necessary for response	Section 109
Local Governments	Response Recovery	Powers relating to response and recovery borrowing	Section 110, Section 119
Local Authorities	Recovery	Local authority recovery powers	Part 6 – Division 6
Local Governments	Response Recovery	Requirements to consult, engage, and coordinate with Indigenous governing bodies before taking certain response and recovery actions	Part 6 – Division 7
Local Governments	Response Recovery	Reporting requirements (e.g., following the use of response or recovery powers, following state of local emergency)	Section 24, Part 6 – Division 8
Local Authorities	General	Protections against legal proceedings, requirements on information sharing and use of Indigenous knowledge	Part 9
Local Authorities	General Indigenous Partnership	Requirements to work to reach agreement with Indigenous governing bodies on the areas for consultation and cooperation during response and recovery, for inclusion in in the local authority’s emergency management plans	Section 179(7)

Functional after regulations

The following provisions will be effective once necessary regulations are completed.

Provisions not yet in effect
Entity	Phase	Component	Reference
Local Governments	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirements to prepare, maintain, and implement: risk assessments for hazards within their jurisdiction emergency management plans business continuity plans	Sections 47, 51-53, 55
Public Sector Agencies	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirements to prepare, maintain, and implement: risk assessments for specific hazards  emergency management plans business continuity plans	Sections 46, 51-53, 55, 70, 163 (g)
Critical Infrastructure Owners	Mitigation Preparedness	Definition of “critical infrastructure”	Section 48
Critical Infrastructure Owners	Mitigation Preparedness	Requirements to prepare, maintain, and implement: risk assessments for specific hazards  emergency management plan business continuity plans	Sections 49, 51-53, 55, 163(g)

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

Emergency management legislation in effect

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Indigenous governing bodies

Provincial powers and requirements

Local authority powers and requirements

Functional after regulations

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