BC NDP MLAs Blatherwick and Farnworth say funding will strengthen emergency support services in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam

COQUITLAM– BC NDP MLAs Jennifer Blatherwick and Mike Farnworth say funding will help to better support people in the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Kwikwetlem area who need to evacuate from their homes during emergencies.

“It’s crucial that people know there is a safe place to go if they have to evacuate their home during an emergency,” says Jennifer Blatherwick, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville. “Our government is committed to supporting services for people in times of need.”

The following local communities are receiving funding:

• Coquitlam- Group lodging supplies, $40,000
• Kwikwetlem First Nation- Group lodging supplies and registration modernization, $40,000
• Port Coquitlam- Training and retention activities for staff and volunteers, support for the evacuee registration & assistance program and supplies, $40,000

The BC New Democrat government is providing over $5 million for 113 local projects. The funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services through volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer training, and the purchase of equipment.

“Emergency support staff and volunteers are essential to keep us all safe,” says Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam. “This funding will go toward ensuring they are as prepared as they can be when we need them most.”

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding programs designed to help local governments and First Nations better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. These programs include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centre equipment and training, volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training, and Indigenous cultural safety and humility training.

Since its establishment in 2017, the province has committed $369 million into CEPF. To date, approximately $315 million has been provided for approximately 2,400 projects across all CEPF streams. This fund is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities.