Ontario Prepared For Emergencies

    McGuinty Government Launches Quick-Response Supply Network

    TORONTO, May 1 /CNW/ - The Province has a new quick-response network to
ensure Ontarians will have access to critical supplies in the event of a
crisis or disaster.
    The first of its kind in Canada, the network is a partnership of the
Ontario government, through Emergency Management Ontario
(http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/pub_security/emo/about_emo.html)(EMO),
the federal government, and over 40 private sector groups. The partnership
will be known as the Supply Chain Alliance.
    The network will ensure that basic supplies and commodities will be on
the road to affected communities within hours of an emergency, including:

    -   Semi-trailers packed with clothes and blankets
    -   Refrigerated trucks delivering fresh food and water
    -   Tankers topped up with oil and gasoline.

    Key participating sectors include: food and water, oil and gas, building
supplies, medical supplies, financial services, telecommunications,
electricity and transportation.
    This announcement launches Emergency Preparedness Week in Ontario, May 4
to 10.

    QUOTES

    "Ontario leads the country in the development of this important quick
response emergency supply network," said Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services Rick Bartolucci
(http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about_min/bio.html). "It means
urgently needed supplies will be out of the warehouse and on the road within
precious hours of an emergency occurring."
    "Our members are working hard to make their own supply chain as resilient
as possible so they can continue to operate during a disaster," said Supply
Chain & Logistics Canada (http://www.sclcanada.org/) President Robert
Armstrong. "With the new alliance, we'll be able to provide our expertise to
the province and help get critical supplies to wherever they're needed in
Ontario during an emergency."

    QUICK FACTS

    -   Only 12 percent of Canadians have an emergency survival kit and only
        11 percent have a family emergency plan.

    -   The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act enables the
        province to buy and distribute critical supplies during a disaster.

    LEARN MORE

    View Minister's Emergency Preparedness Video
(http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/pub_security/emo/esk.html).

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                   SUPPLYING ONTARIANS DURING EMERGENCIES

    Ontario's emergency supply chain alliance includes experts from Emergency
Management Ontario
(http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/pub_security/emo/about_emo.html)(EMO),
private sector firms and organizations and federal departments such as Public
Safety Canada (http://publicsafety.gc.ca/thm/em/index-eng.aspx) and the
Department of National Defence
(http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/en/index_e.asp). Alliance members will work
together to coordinate the purchase, transport and distribution of items
necessary to ensure the well-being of Ontarians during a disaster. Membership
is voluntary and continues to grow.
    In the event of a disaster, private sector representatives will join
public sector officials at the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. They
would provide technical advice on procurement and distribution issues and
reach out to private firms to assist with emergency acquisition,
transportation and distribution of essential goods and products.

    SUPPORT FOR THE ALLIANCE

    "Private sector firms have the logistical expertise and capacity to
distribute emergency supplies so it makes sense for us to work with them,"
said Deputy Minister of Emergency Planning and Management Jay C. Hope.
    "We're prepared to sit at the table to work through solutions to deliver
food to consumers, hospitals and other facilities during a crisis," said
Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, Ontario Region
(http://www.ccgd.ca/home/en/RegionalOntario.htm) Vice-President Kim McKinnon.
"Preparedness is a key focus for our members and we're happy to work with EMO
and other alliance partners to ensure critical supplies get to where they're
needed during an emergency."

    The following organizations, from the public and private sectors, are
members of the alliance:

    -   The Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada
        (http://www.sclcanada.org/)
    -   The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, Ontario Region
        (http://www.ccgd.ca/home/en/RegionalOntario.htm)
    -   The Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council
        (http://www.supplychaincanada.org/en/)
    -   ASK Personnel Ltd.
    -   The Beer Store
    -   Canada Command's Ontario-based Joint Task Force Central
    -   Canadian Egg Marketing Agency
    -   Canadian National Railway
    -   Canadian Pacific Railway
    -   Canadian Petroleum Products Institute
    -   Canadian Tire Corporation
    -   CapGemini Canada Inc.
    -   Citibank
    -   Collier's International Inc.
    -   Dole Packaged Food Company
    -   Exel Logistics Canada Inc.
    -   Fisher Scientific Ltd.
    -   George Brown College
    -   Home Depot Canada
    -   Hydro One
    -   Independent Electricity System Operator
    -   IBM Canada
    -   Kohl and Frisch Ltd.
    -   Lifestyles Global Network
    -   Livingston International Inc.
    -   Loblaw's Companies Ltd.
    -   NCH Canada Inc.
    -   Ontario Power Generation
    -   Ontario Truckers Association
    -   Petro-Canada
    -   Plexxus Inc.
    -   Public Safety Canada
    -   Purolator Courrier
    -   Railway Association of Canada
    -   Recochem Inc.
    -   Rogers Communications Inc.
    -   Ryerson University
    -   Sanimax Logistics
    -   Schulich School of Business, York University
    -   SCI Logistics Inc.
    -   Shell Canada Inc.
    -   Sheridan College
    -   Sobey's Canada, Ontario Region
    -   Sterling Agility Ltd.
    -   Supply Chain Alliance Partners Ltd.
    -   Telus Geomatics Ltd.
    -   Wal-Mart Canada.

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                                                      ontario.ca/safety-news
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For further information: Laura Blondeau, Minister's Office, (416)
325-4973; Patrice Cloutier, Communications Branch, (416) 326-9195