An improved ability to respond to emergencies requiring provincial assistance.
Ten specialized emergency response teams are being set up across the province with Thunder Bay serving as a host to a team to help of all of northwestern Ontario.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says $2.5 million is being used to create ten teams.
“Our investments will provide funding for teams with specialized rescue skills to help when people are trapped in collapsed buildings. It will also provide funding for teams responding to incidents involving chemicals, biological agents, radioactive and nuclear contamination or explosions,” says Jones.
Jones sees a need for these teams.
“At a time when natural disasters such as flooding tornadoes and extreme weather are becoming more frequent, we need to ensure that Ontario is prepared,” says Jones.
Ontario’s Assistant Deputy Fire Marshall Todd Clark adds it will improve on response times to incidents.
“Through our government’s emergency management action plan, the Office of the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management have more resources in its tool kit to call upon when disaster strikes,” says Clark.
Other teams will be located in North Bay, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, and Windsor.
