Emergency management legislation
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) coordinates British Columbia's response to emergencies and disasters. EMCR has assumed the mandate of Emergency Management BC, which was previously part of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
On this page
- Legislation and regulations
- Modernized emergency management legislation
- Indigenous communities and emergency management legislation
Legislation and regulations
The Emergency Program Act (EPA) and related regulations govern how to manage a emergency or disaster in British Columbia:
- Emergency Program Act (EPA)
- Emergency Program Management Regulation
- Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation
- Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation
Modernized emergency management legislation
New legislation is being developed to reflect the changing nature of emergencies and disasters. The changes will improve how we manage emergencies like pandemics, floods and wildfires. They also address the impact these events have on people and communities.
- Follow the proposed changes for modernized emergency management legislation
The changes will address new standards and best practices:
- The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
- The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (PDF, 170KB)
- The Draft Principles that Guide the Province of British Columbia’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples (PDF)
- Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia (PDF, 16.2MB)
- Lessons learned from our response to COVID-19, recent floods and wildfires
Emergency legislation and Indigenous communities
The Governments of Canada and the Province of British Columbia have a 10-year bilateral agreement (the Agreement), to enhance the delivery of emergency management support services to on-reserve First Nations communities in B.C. This agreement enables all First Nations communities on reserves to receive emergency management support equitable to what is currently provided to local authorities.
The term 'Local Authority/ies' refer to municipalities, regional districts, Treaty First Nations and the Nisga’a Nation who have specific legislated emergency management requirements set out in the Emergency Program Act (EPA).
Treaty Nation governments may also choose to make their own laws regarding emergency management to the extent that those laws do not conflict with federal or provincial enactments.
Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP)
In partnership with First Nations communities, provincial and territorial governments and non-government organizations, Indigenous Services Canada's Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) helps communities on reserve access emergency assistance services.
EMAP provides funding to First Nations communities so they can build resiliency, prepare for natural hazards and respond to them using the four pillars of emergency management.
