Canada 'clearly unready' for potential disasters: report

C B C . C A N e w s - F u l l S t o r y :
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Canada 'clearly unready' for potential disasters: report
Last Updated Wed, 31 Mar 2004 17:56:26

OTTAWA - Poor co-operation among all levels of governments and chronic underfunding of emergency response workers have left Canada unprepared for potential disasters, according to a new Senate committee report.

The committee on national security and defence, which has been studying the issue for more than two years, says Canada is repeating its history of "muddling through" when it comes to its preparedness for man-made or natural crises.

"The fact that Canada was unprepared for two world wars cost us many young lives. The fact that we are clearly so unready for a wide variety of potential disasters could cost us even more lives," the report states.

"Within the bounds of financial realism, there is no excuse for unreadiness. Governments are paid to be ready."

The committee said they were "overwhelmed with evidence" about the lack of co-operation and cohesion and among the federal and provincial governments.

The report found that the "insights of municipalities on the front line of emergency response are largely ignored by federal and provincial planners.

"Senior levels of government should do what this report is all about: respond," the report states.

Municipalities unaware of emergency supplies

The report found that larger cities are generally better prepared than smaller cities. But even there, only half of big municipalities said they are prepared for a major disaster.

The committee also found that many municipalities are unaware of the resources available in case of an emergency.

Health Canada has emergency medical supplies and equipment cached across the country, but two-thirds of the 86 municipalities that responded to a committee survey said they didn't know they exist.

Many cities and towns said they would have problems in a disaster because police, firefighters and ambulances can't communicate with each other because they use different equipment.

The report calls for increased funding for first responders, a strengthening of the federal government's emergency system and better co-operation with the provinces.
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Written by CBC News Online staff