Emergency Management in Canadaand the 

Government Operations Centre

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Public Safety Canada (PS) established in 2003

Combination of national security and emergency management

National leadership in emergencies

Guidance to federal institutions on the four pillars of emergency management, and establishes policies, programs and activities for emergency management

Coordinates Government of Canada’s  response to emergencies                                         (through the GOC)

Portfolio agencies under one roof:

Emergency Management and         Public Safety Canada

Levels of OperationsUNCLASSIFIED

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Interrelated JurisdictionsUNCLASSIFIED

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All‐Hazards ApproachUNCLASSIFIED

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● Approach increases efficiency by recognizing and integrating common emergency management elements across hazard types

● Does not literally mean preparing to address any and all potential hazards in existence

● Involves developing and implementingemergency management strategies for thefull range of likely risks and emergencies,be it natural (e.g. floods, earthquakes), human-induced (e.g. terrorism, SARS), technological (e.g. cyber)

● Emphasizes the leveraging of commoncapabilities across the entire emergencymanagement system

Emergency Management in Canada ‐Responsibilities

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Federal GovernmentExclusive areas of jurisdictionNational assistance when needed

Provincial GovernmentsCalled in for assistance or take control

Local and Municipal Responders

Individual responsibilityFor health, safety and protection

Changing ParadigmUNCLASSIFIED

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Government 

Opera

tions Centre

FERP Background UNCLASSIFIED

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Under the Emergency Management Act:

• the Minister of Public Safety is responsible for coordinating the Government of Canada’s response to an emergency

• federal ministers are responsible for developing emergency management plans in relation to risks in their areas of accountability

In support of this responsibility, PS developed the Federal Emergency Response Plan (FERP) in consultation with other government departments. The FERP was Cabinet approved in December 2009, and updated in January 2011. 

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What is the FERP?

The federal government’s all‐hazards response plan

Designed to harmonize federal emergency response efforts with those of the provincial/territorial governments, NGOs, and the private sector

Applies to domestic emergencies, as well as international when domestic coordination support is required

National‐ and regional‐level components allow for effective horizontal and vertical harmonization of effort throughout the federal government

Provides an integrated, strategic‐level Government of Canada response

FERP Strategic ObjectivesUNCLASSIFIED

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•Save lives

•Protect property and the environment

•Maintain law, order and national security

•Maintain public confidence

•Reduce economic and social losses

When is the FERP used?

• When a province or territory requests federal support to deal with an emergency

• When an emergency of such magnitude occurs that it impacts multiple jurisdictions and/or OGDs; therefore, coordination is required

• When an event directly involves federal assets, services, employees, statutory authority/responsibilities, or impacts confidence in government

• When aspects of the national interest are affected

National Interest: defence and maintenance of the social, political and economic stability of Canada

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Types of Federal Responsibility

• Three types of departments/agencies:– Primary– Supporting– Coordinating

• No longer “lead” department/agency

• No event in the national interest is ever of a single department/agency mandate

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ESFs describe the structure through which Government of Canada capabilities are managed to meet emergency management objectives. They outline the roles and responsibilities that institutions may be required to execute during federal response operations.

A primary department is a federal government institution with a mandate most directly related to a key element of an emer‐gency. One or more federal government institutions may be designated as primary, depending on the nature and scope of the incident. 

A supporting department is a federal government institution that provides generalized or specialized assistance to a primary department in response to an emergency.

FERP: Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)

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# EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION MINISTER(S) WITH PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITY

1 Transportation  Transport Canada

2 Telecommunications Industry Canada

3 Agriculture and Agri‐Food Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada/Canadian Food Inspection Agency

4 Energy Production and Distribution   Natural Resources Canada

5Public Health and Essential Human Services 

Health Portfolio, Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada

6 Environment  Environment Canada

7 Human and Social Services Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

8 Law Enforcement  Royal Canadian Mounted Police

9 International Coordination Department of Foreign Affairs and        International Trade Canada

10 Government Services Public Works and Government Services Canada

11 Logistics Operations Management Public Safety Canada

12 Communications Public Safety Canada, Communications Directorate

13 Border Services  Canada Border Services Agency

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National Emergency Response System(NERS)

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Provides for the harmonization of federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) emergency response

Clarifies roles and responsibilities of, and linkages between, (F/P/T) emergency response systems

Describes the process for a P/T request for federal assistance

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Role of the GOC UNCLASSIFIED

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On behalf of the Government of Canada, to support response coordination of events 

affecting the national interest

On behalf of the Government of Canada, to support response coordination of events 

affecting the national interest

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The GOC mandate has been refined:

It is an interdepartmental response‐focused asset of the Government of Canada, working in support of deputy heads, departments, and agencies at the national (strategic) whole‐of‐government level. 

The GOC brings all partners into a common environment to harmonize collective actions and abilities into efficient analysis and action.

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GOC FunctionsUNCLASSIFIED

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Organization of the GOC

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Governance

Federal Emergency Management System

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Governance –DG Community

• Chaired by DG GOC

• Includes DG with operations responsibilities from involved primary and supporting departments

• Provides leadership and direction to the federal family including

‐ confirming risk analysis

‐ providing planning guidance

‐ approving concept of operations

‐ identifying issues for higher‐level authorities

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Governance –ADM Committees

• Two committees– ADM Emergency Management Committee (ADM EMC)– ADM National Security Operations (ADM NS Ops)

• Co-chaired by an ADM from Public Safety and an ADM from an OGD– Supports Federal Coordination Officer– Coordinates and recommends options to DM EMC and Cabinet

Operations – Coordinates recovery or long-term management of some issues

• Membership is event dependant

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Governance –DM Committee

• Chaired by Federal Coordination Officer (usually DM PS)- Can be chaired by National Security Advisor with DM PS as vice

• Primary committee responsible for coordinating the federal government’s response and for providing advice to ministers

• Membership varies based on the event

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Governance –Cabinet Committee

•Provides day-to-day coordination of the federal government’s agenda, including issues management, legislation and house planning, andcommunications

•Can be expected to be the body that authorizes major decisions during events

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Requests for Assistance ProcessUNCLASSIFIED