By RDNewsNow staff

STATES OF EMERGENCY CLARIFIED

Province amends emergency management to address COVID-19

Mar 21, 2020 | 9:20 AM

Alberta’s Emergency Management Amendment Act now allows local and provincial states of emergency to exist at the same time, helping communities and the province respond effectively to emergencies.

The provincial government made amendments to the Emergency Management Act during a rare Friday sitting of the legislature.

Prior to the amendment, a provincial state of emergency nullified a local state of emergency, taking some powers away from the local officials. Under the new act, a provincial state of emergency can now supplement and reinforce a local authority’s state of emergency, allowing both levels of government to work more closely.

“These are truly unprecedented times, and the safety of all Albertans remains our top priority. These changes will allow us to better support and work alongside our communities across the province in order to manage emergencies more effectively,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Officials say the amendments provide clarity and improve the coordination of local and provincial response efforts in the event of disasters, such as wildfires, floods and pandemics. Emergency management responsibilities are also clarified to ensure local authorities can remain responsible for their communities in the event of a provincial state of emergency.

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As of March 20, there have been 25 local states of emergency declared in Alberta as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rise.