Auditor General Reveals Serious Emergency Management Gaps: Fire Chiefs

For immediate release

“The Auditor General’s recent report on the state of emergency management in Canada provides official confirmation of dangerous shortcomings that have been widely known in the Canadian Fire Services for many years,” said Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell, President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC).  He pointed to a wide range of issues identified in that report that have been presented by  CAFC to the Government of Canada repeatedly since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington.

“The Auditor General reported that Public Safety Canada had an annual budget of $58.5 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year for emergency management,” President Burrell observed   “The fact that it did not spend even one third of its emergency management budget in the past two years should be is distressing news for all Canadians,” he added. The Auditor General reported that the 2004 National Security Policy called for equipment and communications to be interoperable or compatible so that fire, police and ambulance services could work together more effectively.  “That was five years ago,” said CAFC’s President. “We are still waiting for the federal Government to take meaningful action in line with that Policy.”

The Auditor General has said, “Public Safety Canada needs to have experienced and knowledgeable staff in place.”  Fire Chief Burrell agreed.  “Since 2006, CAFC has been urging that the Office of the Canadian Fire Advisor be established within Public Safety Canada.  That Secretariat would provide the Department with the type of experience and knowledge that the Auditor General says it sorely needs.” he stated.   

CAFC’s President pointed to many other shortcomings revealed in the Auditor General’s report ranging from a faltering response to the perils of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) threats to inaction in protecting critical infrastructure.

“I call on the Prime Minister to immediately create and convene a blue ribbon panel of Canada’s emergency first responders to recommend what needs to be done to address the emergency management shortcomings identified by the Auditor General,“  Fire Chief Burrell said.  “Concurrently, it is critical that the office of the Canadian Fire Advisor be established within Public Safety Canada.” 

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Information:

Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell
President, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Tel:     403-287-4255
Cell:    403-813-4064 

Ruth Cardinal,
Communications Advisor, CAFC
Cell:    613-850-7322

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