Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowin Ma sent a letter to the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako (RDBN) addressing jail time concerns for community emergency groups under the Emergency Disaster Management Act (EDMA).
Granisle Mayor Linda McGuire informed board that the minister wanted to assure that nobody was going to jail.
Clint Lambert, RDBN Francois/Ootsa Lake rural director, said that he appreciates the minister and her staff for working and making changes within the policy. However Lambert said he still has concerns.
“There are still things in here that I cannot stomach. Last time, we were dealing with fire, and there were another 100 pages after it. So, this isn’t over yet,” he said.
Michael Riis-Christianson, RDBN Burns Lake rural director, said this wasn’t the usual cookie-cutter letter.
“I see this as a win for us, indicating that somebody is listening for a change. I commend the minister,” he said.
In the letter, Ma said, “While some stakeholders have suggested that local authorities or their staff could face penalties for managing evacuations in this manner, that is not the case. People who temporarily re-enter evacuated areas for authorized reasons still comply with the emergency order and would not face penalties.”
The letter also emphasized that local authorities still have the power to handle emergencies within their jurisdictional boundaries under EDMA. In the event of a local emergency declaration, the local authority may decide to order the evacuation of individuals from dangerous areas. Evacuation orders can be issued to permit individuals to temporarily return to evacuated areas for reasons authorized by the local authority, such as relocating livestock, maintaining critical infrastructure, or retrieving necessary medication.
After the discussion, Mark Parker, RDBN chairperson, commented that the minister listens to everyone and makes policy changes based on daily feedback. He asked whether everyone received the letter, and board agreed.