Requests for Federal Assistance

Date: April 27, 2020

Classification: Unclassified

Branch / Agency: EMPB

Issue:

To provide an overview of Requests for Federal Assistance, including recent requests for the use of Canadian Armed Forces support, in particular as it relates to the federal response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Proposed Response:

• The Government of Canada is committed to assisting provinces and territories with their emergency management responses to cyclical natural disasters and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The GOC manages formal requests for assistance from the federal government and the provinces and territories—such as the requests from Quebec and Ontario to support senior homes and long-term health care facilities—and liaises with key organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces.
• An RFA is a formal request to the federal government to provide support in response to an emergency such as a natural disaster, national security incident and/or a pandemic like COVID-19.
• Since March 2020, the Government of Canada has supported 10 RFAs.
• These include the provision of a ventilator to Nova Scotia to facilitate patient transfers, the deployment of CAF medical and non-medical personnel to long-term healthcare facilities in Quebec (QC) and Ontario, Ranger assistance in Quebec to help spread awareness of public health measures in relation to COVID-19 in the Basse Côte-Nord region, as well as tent set up and logistical support for testing site installation in Nunavik, QC.
• An omnibus RFA was also established to create direct contact points between the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of National Defence to facilitate decision-making on deploying the CAF to support COVID-19 response efforts.

Background:

• National COVID-19 response efforts require a whole-of-government approach. It is expected that there will be an increased need for federal assistance as it has become apparent that the COVID-19 response is placing a strain on emergency planning and response organizations across the country.
• The intersection of forthcoming cyclical natural disasters, such as floods and fires, with the COVID-19 pandemic presents additional unique challenges to Provinces/Territories (PTs), First Nations and municipalities across Canada that are responsible for managing responses to emergencies within their jurisdictions.
• Should municipalities exceed their capacity to respond, they may escalate a request for assistance to the PTs.
• When the emergency involves a First Nation (FN) community, FN leadership, depending on relevant emergency management agreements, will work in collaboration with their PTs and/or Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) or regional officials, to assess the emergency and propose a response. If a resolution is not possible at the regional level, a request for assistance may be sought.
• If the PTs assess that the emergency exceeds their capacity and resources to response, they may seek assistance from the federal government to help them fill the gaps to mitigate and response to an emergency. Additionally, federal organizations may also require resources from their federal partners if their ability to continue to operate and respond to an emergency is beyond their capacity.
• A Request for Federal Assistance (RFA) is the formalization of a request to the federal government to provide support in response to an emergency such as a natural disaster, national security incident and/or pandemic like COVID-19.
• The Minister of Public Safety is responsible to coordinate RFAs under the Emergency Management Act.
• The RFA process does not impact regular operations nor provision of support to provincial governments or municipalities by departments within their regular operations, and existing mandate and authorities.
• Public Safety Canada is working with federal, provincial and territorial partners, through the Government Operations Centre (GOC), to ensure ongoing coordinated responses to COVID-19, natural disasters or other incidents.
• The GOC is supporting the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is the federal government lead for the response to COVID-19. 
• Where a PT makes an official RFA, there is a well-established process in place for managing RFAs, through the GOC, that includes interdepartmental consultation and coordination of all departments as required.
• The GOC coordinates formal RFAs from the federal government and PTs – such as the request from Quebec and Ontario to support senior homes and long-term health care facilities – and liaises with key organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
• The GOC has established an RFA Secretariat led by the GOC to receive, evaluate, and prioritize all RFAs. The GOC convenes consultation with implicated departments to review RFAs, as required. 
• This ensures a coherent whole-of-government approach in responding to emergency management activities through rapid and agile inter-departmental and/or inter-governmental consultations prior to directing specific requests to a federal organization, including the CAF.

[Redacted]

Contacts:

Prepared by: Karen Foss, Director, Director, Operations Division, GOC, 613-991-7081/613-299-9435

Approved by: Patrick Tanguy, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and Programs Branch, 613-993-4325

Date modified:

2020-10-01