Emergency Preparedness
Canada and the United States have a long history together. The co-operation between our two nations has continued to develop over the years, being refined and adjusted to accommodate the changes in each country and the common challenges that we face. One of the major challenges that Canada and the United States face together is emergency preparedness.
Cooperation in Emergency Preparedness
In 1986, Canada and the United States re-formalized their history of emergency cooperation with the signing of The Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States on Co-Operation in Comprehensive Civil Emergency Planning and Management.
This agreement revolves around 10 principles of co-operation which are to guide coordinated efforts in emergency preparedness.
Border Crossing Freedom in Emergencies
The primary function of the Emergency Preparedness Consultative Committee for Transportation (EPCCT) is to create procedures to permit freedom of transportation across the Canada-U.S. border during an emergency, in war and in peace.
To this end, Transport Canada's Emergency Preparedness, Civil Aviation, Marine Safety and Rail Safety offices are all members of the committee, as is the Canadian Coast Guard through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.