Released on July 6, 2000
Emergency Preparedness projects will receive $443,368 under the Joint EmergencyPreparedness Program (JEPP) Natural Resources Canada Minister Ralph Goodale and
Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Clay Serby announced today.
The Government of Canada announcement was made on behalf of Minister of
National Defence and Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness Art
Eggleton.
The Government of Canada has committed $216,934 and the provincial and
municipal governments $226,434 to fund the enhancement of emergency
preparedness in eight Saskatchewan mutual aid areas, comprising Meadow Lake,
Melfort, Radville, Humboldt, Hudson Bay-Porcupine, Gull Lake, Creighton and
Wood River. The projects involve purchase or upgrades to response or rescue
equipment and emergency communications systems. A portion of the funding will
also go toward providing La Ronge with emergency rescue and communications
equipment, and to support the development of an interim provincial emergency
preparedness program.
"Through JEPP the Government of Canada is making an important contribution to
the overall safety, security and well-being of Canadians," Goodale said. "By
co-operating on JEPP projects with provincial and territorial governments, we
can support improved emergency preparedness and response capabilities
throughout Canada."
"Building strong and safe communities are prime considerations of the
provincial government and the JEPP program helps us to enhance public
awareness, increase our readiness for emergency situations and reduce the costs
associated with natural disasters," Serby said . "Through the program,
Saskatchewan communities and mutual aid areas can have up-to-date equipment and
well-trained staff and volunteers."
The Government of Canada contribution toward the Joint Emergency Preparedness
Program funding that was announced today was provided for in the most recent
federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. It
is an example of the federal government is setting priorities in its spending
so that it can better serve Canadians by making better use of their tax dollars.
Since JEPP began in 1980, the federal, provincial and municipal governments
have contributed more than $10 million to emergency preparedness training and
equipment in Saskatchewan.
The Joint Emergency Preparedness Program is administered by Emergency
Preparedness Canada.
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For more information, contact:
Hall Swain Wayne Marr
Regional Director (Saskatchewan) Director,
Emergency Preparedness Canada Saskatchewan Emergency Planning
Phone: (306) 780-5005 Phone: (306) 787-9563