Archived - Summative Evaluation of INAC's Emergency Management - Follow-up Report Status Update as of March 31, 2011

It is recommended that INAC clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Department as they relate to emergency management. This process should consider the current environment of emergency management, specifically the implications of the 2007 Emergency Management Act. To do so, the Department must define relationships with all external stakeholders and put in place the appropriate governance structures and agreements to ensure fulfillment of responsibilities related to emergency management. All aspects of emergency management should be considered in this process, with particular emphasis on the following areas:

1. The precise role of the Department in an all-hazards approach to emergency management in the three northern territories.
2. The precise role of the Department with respect to emergencies that fall within the responsibility of another department or jurisdiction (such as health issues and civil unrest).
3. The program delivery mechanisms and structure relating to the four pillars of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities.
4. Horizontal engagement of other relevant INAC programs that have a potential to contribute to an all-hazards approach to emergency management, such as capital infrastructure in mitigation projects or land claims in civil unrest issues.
5. The precise role of First Nations communities in emergency management.

A - In addition to the INAC National Emergency Management Plan and to address recommendation 1 as described, INAC will be working with the Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management (SOREM) First Nations, Inuit and Northerners Working Group to establish a national approach to emergency management Service Agreements with the provinces/territories. As part of this, the SOREM Working Group made up of intergovernmental representatives will support the development of a clear national INAC framework on emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for:

• roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders;
• identifying services to be delivered;
• capacity building in communities;
• establishing a funding formula for emergency management services rendered;
• eligible and non-eligible expenses;
• the declaration of an emergency on reserve; and
• accountability (including a reporting mechanism).

June 2010

Update/Rationale:
As of 31/03/2011:

Following concerns voiced by F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management regarding the issue of Aboriginal emergency management, Public Safety Canada was urged to engage INAC in discussions to address the need for a consistent level of emergency management services. The Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management (SOREM) Aboriginal Working Group was established in November, 2009, in response to these concerns. INAC has since been engaged in a collaborative approach with the SOREM Aboriginal Working Group to establish National Guidelines for developing emergency management service agreements between INAC and the provinces and territories.

B - As part of this process and for preparedness, INAC will explore approaches to ensure the development of meaningful emergency management plans in First Nations communities through a capacity building approach.

INAC's EIMD and Northern Affairs Organization (NAO) are currently collaborating on developing an annex to INAC's National EM Plan to clarify INAC's emergency roles and responsibilities in the North.

INAC's precise role with respect to emergencies that fall within the responsibility of another department or jurisdiction (such as health issues and civil unrest) is known and must simply be better communicated to stakeholders. For example, INAC worked closely with Health Canada's First Nation and Inuit Health Branch to develop a joint action plan, based on the Department's role as set out in Annex B of The Canadian Influenza Pandemic Plan for the Health Sector. The joint action plan clearly described INAC's precise role during the H1N1 emergency. INAC also participates in Public Safety's Interdepartmental Working Group on the All Hazards Risk Assessment Framework for increased collaboration at the federal level.

Although better communication and coordination has been achieved since the creation of the Emergency and Issue Management Directorate in September 2008, work is ongoing to develop stronger links to other relevant INAC programs to reinforce the all-hazards approach to emergency management in the Department.

Update/Rationale:
As of 31/03/2011:

As a complement to the work of the SOREM Aboriginal Working Group, EIMD continues to support the development of an Annex for the North in collaboration with NAO. Once the Annex is completed, it will be added to the INAC National Emergency Management Plan.

AES: No Comment

It is recommended that INAC consider a revised funding structure, to alleviate the impact on regions, other program areas, and communities and provide a secure funding base for the Department's emergency response and recovery activities. To facilitate this transition, INAC should document existing INAC funding for emergency management programming and develop forecasts for future expenses relating to an all hazards approach to emergency management.

INAC should also identify appropriate resources in alignment with the Department's roles and responsibilities as determined in the response to Recommendation 1 above. Specifically, ensuring that the department has the ability to provide preparedness and mitigation services in accordance with Departmental obligations under the EMA.

To support this exercise, the Department has started to track and document all emergency management related expenses for better forecasting purposes.

Also as part of this, INAC will develop options to secure appropriate resources in alignment with the Department's roles and responsibilities for emergency management assistance as well as obligations under the EMA.

Update/Rationale:
As of 31/03/2011:

Following the requirement to complete its evaluation, the EMAP authority was renewed as of April 1, 2010 for a period of 5 years. While developing options for a longer term solution with respect to the financing of emergency management in First Nations communities, the Department continues to provide funding for critical emergency management activities on reserve, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities.

AES: No Comment

It is recommended that INAC develop a Performance Measurement Strategy for emergency management programming in consultation with the Evaluation Performance Measurement and Review Branch and in accordance with the principles of the new Treasury Board Policy and Directive on Evaluation.

Update/Rationale:
As of 31/03/2011:

Work has been initiated to develop a Performance Measurement Strategy for the renewed EMAP authority. Orientation meetings have been held with EPMRB and SPPD and program and regional representatives have been included in an initial working group session held in February 2011. A draft Performance Measurement Strategy for the EMAP is targeted for the fall of 2011 and a final document by end of 2011.

AES: No Comment