Released on June 25, 1998
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, federal Minister of Natural Resourcesand Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and the
Honourable Carol Teichrob, Minister of Saskatchewan Municipal
Government, today announced that a total of $594,536 has been
committed by the federal, provincial and municipal governments for
nine emergency preparedness projects in Saskatchewan under the Joint
Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP).
JEPP enables the federal, provincial and municipal governments to work
co-operatively to ensure a reasonably uniform level of emergency
response and preparedness in communities across the country.
"Today's announcement is an excellent example of how the federal and
provincial governments are continuing to work together to help ensure
our communities are prepared to cope with virtually any emergency that
threatens lives, property and the environment. The Government of
Canada is pleased to commit $88,475 toward the training in
Saskatchewan," said Goodale, who made the announcement on behalf of
the Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence and Minister
Responsible for Emergency Preparedness.
"Recent natural disasters across Canada show the importance for
every community to be prepared," said Teichrob. "Programs like
JEPP help Saskatchewan communities stay ready, with up-to-date
equipment and well trained staff and volunteers. The provincial
commitment of $107,200 for ongoing training, to help local
officials prepare their communities for local or province-wide
disasters, demonstrates Saskatchewan's commitment to emergency
preparedness."
The biggest share of the newly committed funds for joint projects
in the province has been earmarked for Saskatchewan Emergency
Planning for its ongoing enhanced emergency training and
education program. Forty courses providing approximately 1,600
training days will be offered throughout the province.
Individual courses focus on developing community emergency plans,
the municipal emergency social services function, testing
emergency plans and linking Health Districts with their local
municipalities.
The eight other emergency preparedness projects announced today,
that are to be completed by March 31, 1999, are cost-shared
federal-municipal projects in the cities of Swift Current and
Regina and the mutual aid areas of Weyburn, Wood River, Gull
Lake, Wilkie, Manitou and Shaunavon. The municipal commitment
totals $233,466 and the federal commitment totals $165,395.
The federal JEPP funding was provided for in the most recent
federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal
framework. This program underlines the commitment of both
governments to establish spending priorities that will best serve
the people of Saskatchewan through their tax dollars.
Since JEPP began in 1980, the federal, provincial and municipal
governments have contributed over $9 million to emergency
preparedness projects in Saskatchewan.
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For more information, please contact:
Hal Swain Wayne Marr
Regional Director, Saskatchewan Director
Emergency Preparedness Canada Saskatchewan Emergency Planning
Phone: (306)780-5005 Phone: (306)787-9563