Province investing additional $5 million to protect communities and improve emergency response capabilities
SUBMITTED
The Ontario government is taking action to protect the province by investing over $99,000 in Mississippi Mills and Central Frontenac to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Funding is being delivered through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, which strengthens emergency preparedness by funding local emergency management training, purchasing critical equipment, and improving infrastructure to make communities more resilient.
“This funding is vital for our communities to strengthen local response capabilities and ensure they are better equipped to handle natural disasters and other emergencies,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “The Community Emergency Preparedness Grant underscores our government’s commitment to public safety.”
The municipality of Mississippi Mills will use this funding to purchase trailers and essential traffic control equipment to safely manage road closures due to floods, windstorms and other severe weather events.
“The increase of unpredictable weather in our Municipality over the last several years underscores the importance of being prepared for any emergency. The Ontario government’s support through Community Emergency Preparedness Grant Program funding streamlines our emergency response operations, enhances public safety and ensures resources go where they’re needed most.” – Mayor Christa Lowry, Municipality of Mississippi Mills
“We are grateful to the Ontario government for this significant funding. The new mobile traffic control trailers and safety tools will allow us to enhance our ability to secure public/responder safety for critical incidents.” – Mike Williams, Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services, Municipality of Mississippi Mills
The township of Central Frontenac will use the funding to purchase emergency signage to inform residents of transportation detour routes and warnings prior to and during emergencies.
“We are extremely grateful to the Province for recognizing this vital need for our community. This valuable grant will allow us to instantly keep residents informed of detour routes for wildland fires and many other emergencies such as drought, extreme cold, floods, & non-emergency events as well, before it becomes a health risk to our valuable residents.” – Frances Smith, Mayor of Central Frontenac
“A safe and prepared Ontario comes when communities and organizations have the resources they need to respond efficiently and effectively in times of crisis,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “I saw first-hand, during the recent ice storms, how our community and the entire province is stronger when we have the capacity to come together to support each other and respond quickly when disaster strikes.”
This year, 114 recipients are receiving funding through the 2024-25 Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) to help them purchase critical equipment and deliver emergency management training to increase local emergency readiness.
In addition to the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, the Ontario government recently announced that it is building a new Ontario Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters that will support public safety and disaster response measures, including Ontario Corps.
QUICK FACTS
- The CEPG grant supports municipalities, local services boards, First Nations communities, Tribal Councils, Indigenous service organizations and non-governmental organizations with mandates or responsibilities in emergency preparedness.
- Recipients were selected through a rigorous and competitive review process.
- Last year, 113 recipients received the 2023-24 Community Emergency Preparedness Grant.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SOURCE: Office of MPP John Jordan.
