With wildfires, floods and other emergencies posing increasing threats to Canadians and to the fire fighters who protect them, the IAFF has proposed an innovative new partnership with the Government of Canada that would significantly enhance the nation’s resiliency in the face of major disasters.
In an Aug. 2 submission to the federal Standing Committee on Finance, which is conducting pre-budget consultations, the IAFF recommended $2.5 million in federal funding the Core Capabilities Emergency Management Program (CCEMP) an initiative that would build on the IAFF’s successful HazMat and Responding to the Interface (RTI) training programs, which are currently funded by the Canadian Government.
The proposed CCEMP, to be delivered by the IAFF, would align with current federal emergency management priorities. It aims to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities through several measures, including enhanced federal collaborations with at-risk communities, improved understanding of disaster risks and bolstered community resilience.
All training materials and resources would comply with applicable laws and standards, such as the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, National Fire Protection Association, Canadian Standards Association and the Incident Command System. The funding would be scalable to meet future emergency management needs.
“We have the capacity to develop and deliver climate and wildfire-related disaster response training and supports tailored to the needs of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness of Canada, including skills and expertise needed in the aftermath of all hazards including tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, aviation/rail disasters, floods, ice storms and high wind events,” the submission stated, emphasizing the ability to reach Indigenous, rural and remote communities that have been underserved in the current emergency management regime.
“With the adoption of the IAFF’s Canadian Core Capabilities Emergency Management Program, the federal government will be strategically positioned to deliver tools to strengthen collaborations and resiliency specific to disaster preparedness and response. The robust structure and activation of this program is assured through the subject matter expertise within the IAFF as demonstrated by past and ongoing IAFF successes in related fields.”
Since 2009, the IAFF’s HazMat & CBRNE Training Initiative has successfully trained more than 9,000 first responders across Canada. Through a pilot project announced last year, 350 fire fighters have been trained to defend structures from wildfire through the IAFF’s RTI training program. In April, the Government of Canada announced an extension and increase in funding to $800,000.
