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Emergency unpreparedness
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November 5, 2009
Canada unprepared for national disasters
While all levels of government across Canada struggle to stay on top of the latest H1N1 pandemic developments, Canada’s auditor-general says the country isn’t adequately prepared for any national emergency.
Kennedy Stewart and Doug McArthur, two experts in Simon Fraser University’s Public Policy Program are available to comment on Sheila Fraser’s new report. It concludes that Canada’s emergency preparedness plan is no better than it was in pre-911 terrorist-attack-days.
Recalling the American government’s unpreparedness for the sinking of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, Stewart says: “Big cities may have more capacity to respond, but smaller rural ones might be in big trouble.”
McArthur calls on Canada’s prime minister to clearly designate responsibility to one of his cabinet ministers for developing “a clear plan and set of procedures that anticipate what is needed to handle typical situations. The minister would also be responsible for training and guidelines in communications and emergency preparedness issues management.”
Doug McArthur, 778.782.5208, 604.786.0016 (cell), dmcarthu@sfu.ca
Kennedy Stewart, kennedys@sfu.ca, currently a visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics (2009-2010)
While all levels of government across Canada struggle to stay on top of the latest H1N1 pandemic developments, Canada’s auditor-general says the country isn’t adequately prepared for any national emergency.
Kennedy Stewart and Doug McArthur, two experts in Simon Fraser University’s Public Policy Program are available to comment on Sheila Fraser’s new report. It concludes that Canada’s emergency preparedness plan is no better than it was in pre-911 terrorist-attack-days.
Recalling the American government’s unpreparedness for the sinking of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, Stewart says: “Big cities may have more capacity to respond, but smaller rural ones might be in big trouble.”
McArthur calls on Canada’s prime minister to clearly designate responsibility to one of his cabinet ministers for developing “a clear plan and set of procedures that anticipate what is needed to handle typical situations. The minister would also be responsible for training and guidelines in communications and emergency preparedness issues management.”
Doug McArthur, 778.782.5208, 604.786.0016 (cell), dmcarthu@sfu.ca
Kennedy Stewart, kennedys@sfu.ca, currently a visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics (2009-2010)