Ontario Combining Emergency Management Ontario with the Office of the Fire Marshal

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Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced, August 15, 2013, that the province is combining Emergency Management Ontario and the Office of the Fire Marshal into a single organization dedicated to promoting safer communities.

According to the ministry, the new "Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management" will strengthen the co-ordination and delivery of community safety programs without impacting front-line services.

The new office, to be located in the new state-of-the-art Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex in Toronto, will:

• Work with municipal partners to deliver fire safety and emergency management programs and services;
• Share expert advice with local decision-makers; and
• Support municipal response efforts when called upon in an emergency.

This is an interesting move by the Ontario government. While there is overlap between the two offices, Emergency Management is certainly more broad than fire prevention. As a critical infrastructure not only from a public health perspective but also in fire prevention, Ontario member utilities can expect to interact with this new office.

For more information, access Emergency Management Ontario website and/or the website for the Office of the Fire Marshal.

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