Emergency grant coming for City of Powell River

City of Powell River will be receiving a $40,000 grant to support Indigenous engagement requirements as it relates to the provincial Emergency and Disaster Management Act.

At the April 4 city council meeting, fire chief Martin Drakeley said the city had the opportunity to apply for the grant from the province to enhance relations with Tla’amin Nation with regard to emergency management.

“We are currently working on another project through the community emergency preparedness fund,” said Drakeley. “Those two projects are somewhat intertwined, where one is fully focused on physical aspects of what is required. This one is more relationship building so that if there is an emergency in the region, we can provide oversight. The relationship building that is required to make this possible is what we are putting forward.”

City chief administrative officer Lisa Bhopalsingh said this grant was offered as an allocated amount to support implementing an act that came into place, the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, which requires Indigenous engagement.

“qathet Regional District is getting some funding and we’re getting funding,” added Bhopalsingh.

Councillor George Doubt said emergency management and disaster situations are generally dealt with by the entire region, with Tla’amin, the regional district and the city coordinating this. He asked if this grant was for an effort between the city and Tla’amin.

Bhopalsingh said the intention is to collaborate between all three governments. She said a letter of support from Tla’amin had been submitted for the grant process.

“They are aware we are getting the funding,” said Bhopalsingh.

Council voted to receive the staff report on Indigenous engagement requirements within the Emergency and Disaster Management Act.

The staff report stated that the funds received will be applied toward development of a regional department operations centre, which will lend itself to strengthening intergovernmental and cross-cultural collaboration and build upon disaster resilience and preparedness in the event of an emergency.

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