WHEREAS municipalities are the first line of defense in an emergency and are responsible under legislation to respond when events threaten the safety of people, property, and the environment.

WHEREAS only council, or a member of in the absence of a quorum, can officially declare a state of local emergency in a municipality and exercise the special powers the legislation confers on council.

WHEREAS under the Emergency Planning Act, Section 22(1) states: “A local emergency declaration expires at the end of seven days from the time the declaration was made unless it is earlier renewed pursuant to subsection (2)”.

WHEREAS under the Emergency Planning Act, Section 23(1) states:

“When, in the opinion of the local authority:

a)  an emergency no longer exists in an area with respect to which a local emergency declaration was made; or

b)  it is in the public interest that a local emergency declaration be terminated in an area with respect to which a local emergency declaration was made;

the local authority shall terminate the local emergency declaration with respect to that area.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to amend the renewal term of a local emergency declaration so it doesn’t need to be renewed at the end of seven days as the local authority determines if an emergency no longer exists.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to amend the local emergency declaration so that it is in effect until the local authority determines that the emergency no longer exists.