Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) has received the final results of an audit of its emergency management program by British Columbia’s Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG). The audit began in 2017 and reviewed emergency management processes and practices at the corporate and electoral area levels.
“Being prepared for all types of emergencies is a high priority for the CRD and we are pleased that the Auditor General for Local Government has recognized our efforts and the importance we place on sharing information and enhancing the coordination of emergency management for our region,” said Bob Lapham, Chief Administrative Officer of the CRD. “While the audit found that we have good systems and practices, we are moving forward with a number of the recommendations in the report which will strengthen our current business continuity strategies based on the objective review by the AGLG and our commitment to implement best practices.“
The report includes nine detailed recommendations to the CRD – many of which are already underway and outlined in the action plan attached to the report. The greatest focus is on business continuity, which is an area where most local and provincial governments across Canada are needing to adjust to meet rapidly evolving emergency management standards and expectations with respect to business continuity and the increasing impacts of climate change.
The CRD partnered with the BC government in March 2016 to establish a regional emergency management partnership (REMP). REMP is a collaborative approach to regional emergency planning, working together with the BC government and municipalities in the case of a regional or multi-site emergency. For more information about CRD emergency programs and REMP, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/service/fire-and-emergency-programs/emergency-management.
The full audit report, including the CRD’s action plan, is available on the AGLG website at https://www.aglg.ca/audit-reports/.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492