Emergency Preparedness

Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing $241,801 through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) to support five municipalities in Nipissing. This funding will strengthen emergency preparedness by investing in local training, upgrading critical equipment, and improving infrastructure to make our community more resilient.

“The Community Emergency Preparedness Grant provides funding for supplies, equipment, and services, supporting our governments effort to protect Ontario by enhancing readiness and response capabilities,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This support will enable local municipalities to better prepare and respond to emergencies, ensuring the safety and security of people in Nipissing.”

 Today's funding includes:

·       $50,000 for the Municipality of Powassan to equip the Municipal Office with a transfer switch to enable generator backup, ensuring the building can operate as an emergency evacuation and coordination centre during outages.

·       $50,000 for the Municipality of East Ferris to address annual power outages that cause medical emergencies for vulnerable residents during extreme winter weathers with the acquisition and installation of a generator which will be designated in the municipality's evacuation center.

·       $48,511 for the City of North Bay to develop and enhance training curriculum and regiment to their emergency plan by hiring an outside specialist in the Emergency Management field to lead the transformation of the city's emergency management program.

·       $47,890 for the Municipality of Callander to support the purchase of hazmat containment supplies for rapid local response, an enclosed trailer, road closure signs, scene lighting, chainsaws, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a drone to improve early wildfire assessment, planning, and containment before risks escalate.

·       $45,400 for the Municipality of Calvin to enhance emergency response capacity by equipping personnel with emergency road closure trailers, portable radios, tablets, and a radio repeater system ensuring reliable, real time communication during wind related emergencies.

 “The Municipality of Powassan appreciates the Province of Ontario and MPP Vic Fedeli for this $50,000 investment through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant. This funding will support our efforts to strengthen local emergency preparedness and response, helping ensure the continuity of critical municipal operations and enhancing community resilience.” – Mayor Peter McIsaac, Municipality of Powassan.

“On behalf of the Municipality of East Ferris, I would like to thank the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, The Honourable Jill Dunlop, for this funding and MPP Vic Fedeli for his continued support of East Ferris’ initiatives. The grant funds will assist us in the purchase and installation of a generator in our new fire hall and training centre which will be designated as an evacuation centre. We currently do not have an evacuation centre with an available back-up power system. This investment supports our community by preparing us to respond should an emergency occur.” – Mayor Rick Champagne, Municipality of East Ferris.

“This funding is very exciting for the Municipality, as it will significantly enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively to hazardous material spills. It will also improve our capacity to rapidly assess large-scale emergencies, such as structural fires or severe windstorms.” – Mayor Jordy Carr, Municipality of Callander.

“The City of North Bay is grateful to the Province of Ontario and Emergency Management Ontario for supporting our community through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant,” said Fire Chief Jason Whiteley. “This funding will help North Bay Fire and Emergency Services review and strengthen our Emergency Management Program, including updates to our emergency, continuity of operations, and evacuation plans, as well as incorporating our wildfire prevention strategy and other partner plans. This work will significantly enhance our community’s emergency preparedness.”

“On behalf of Council, staff, and the residents of Calvin Township, I would like to thank the Government of Ontario for this important investment in emergency preparedness. Following the severe storm our community experienced on June 21 of last year, this funding will help strengthen our ability to respond to future emergencies. We are grateful for the province’s support in helping ensure our municipality remains safe, resilient, and prepared.” - Mayor Richard Gould, Municipality of Calvin.

Quick Facts

·       The Community Emergency Preparedness Grant is part of the $110 million the government is earmarking over three years to strengthen emergency preparedness in Ontario.

·       The grant supports municipalities, local services boards, First Nations communities, Tribal Councils, Indigenous service organizations and non-governmental organizations with mandates or responsibilities in emergency preparedness.

·       For more helpful tips about keeping safe, visit Ontario.ca/BePrepared.