A safe, practiced and prepared Ontario — 2025 Annual Report

Message from the Minister

As Ontario’s first Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, it is my honour to share the 2025 annual report for the Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan — A Safe, Practiced and Prepared Ontario. I am proud to report that through our actions, Ontario is ready, resilient and strong for whatever comes our way.

Last year, a historic ice storm swept through Central Ontario, snapping hydro poles, rendering roads impassable and cutting power to approximately one million people. But we were ready. We were able to rapidly deploy Ontario Corps, a network of skilled partners and volunteers, to support community response efforts. Ontario Corps got to work helping with everything from food hamper delivery and debris clearing, to wellness checks and setting up warming centres. This meant that local first responders could focus on other urgent needs, like addressing imminent safety concerns.

This was only possible because our government invested $15 million over two years to ensure Ontario Corps partners had the critical equipment and resources they needed to support Ontario communities during emergencies such as natural disasters. And we are expanding the network of partners to support Ontario Corps deployments with a range of specific capabilities.

In 2025, we began planning for the new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters. This state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and serve as the province’s emergency command centre and home of Ontario Corps. We also passed the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025 — the first major update to the province’s emergency management legislation in more than 15 years. The Act improves coordination, further supports municipalities and identifies Ontario Corps as a key resource.

Effective emergency management requires local resilience. That’s why, for the third consecutive year, we invested $5 million in the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant program helping another 115 communities purchase critical equipment and training to better prepare for emergencies.

I was also pleased to have co-chaired and hosted the 2025 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management and National Indigenous Leaders, to discuss shared concerns and renew commitments for collaboration to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

I want to thank all municipalities, First Nation communities and emergency management partners for your continued dedication to protect the people of Ontario.

Sincerely,

Jill Dunlop          
Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response

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Message from the Commissioner of Emergency Management

I am pleased to share the third annual report on Ontario’s Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan — A Safe, Practiced and Prepared Ontario. In my first year as Deputy Minister and Ontario’s Commissioner of Emergency Management, I am proud to both lead and support this important work.

Last year was transformational for emergency management in Ontario. Emergency Management Ontario became the standalone Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response with a dedicated minister. This enhances our ability to keep Ontario’s residents safe, practiced and prepared.

And we were tested. The ministry facilitated and supported 11,069 evacuees displaced by wildland fires and flooding from Northern Ontario and Manitoba. All evacuees received wraparound services and were safely returned to their communities as quickly as possible. Ministry personnel dedicated thousands of hours planning, coordinating and delivering to make this happen. 

We also deployed Ontario Corps throughout the year to support our response efforts. Following sustained investment over the last two years, Ontario has built a network of Ontario Corps partners ready to deploy specialized equipment and personnel anywhere in the province within 24 to 72 hours to support existing municipal resources by providing additional surge capacity when municipalities and First Nation communities request it. Ontario Corps volunteers were on the ground during the 2025 ice storm and transported life-saving equipment and supplies to communities impacted by wildland fires in Northern Ontario.  

The achievements highlighted in this report illustrate our collective commitment to building a safer and more resilient Ontario. Thank you to our partners across government, First Nation communities, municipalities and emergency response organizations for your leadership, dedication and commitment to protecting Ontario.

Matthew Pegg          
Deputy Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response    
Commissioner of Emergency Management

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2025: A year in review

In 2025, the province made significant progress in advancing our vision for a safer, better practiced, and increasingly prepared Ontario. The province strengthened community protection by continuing to modernize emergency management and improve emergency management capabilities, including strengthening Ontario Corps, to support Ontario’s work with partners during emergencies.

These improvements provided municipalities, Indigenous communities, and emergency management partners with stronger tools to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. As the hazard landscape continued to evolve, the province responded to a growing number of severe and complex emergencies across Ontario.

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107

significant incidents

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430

emergency management courses delivered

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79

exercises and drills facilitated, observed and/or engaged in

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50

local emergency declarations

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22,440

people trained

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752

deployable volunteers through the Ontario Corps portal

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Co-ordinated the evacuation of

11,069

people, including 2,307 from Manitoba

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342

communities awarded grants through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant since 2023

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More than

6,000 +

volunteer hours through Ontario Corps deployments

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204

deployments of Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response staff for a total of 1,068 days

 

 

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463

engagements with emergency management partners across the province

To help communities build readiness, Ontario increased support for emergency management training and education. In 2025, the province trained 36 per cent more people and delivered 11 per cent more emergency management courses than in 2024 — further expanding local knowledge and strengthening preparedness provincewide.

Ontario also co‑ordinated the evacuation of 11,069 people from 10 communities in response to a wide range of hazards. Evacuees were welcomed and supported in 16 host communities across the province. Of those evacuated, 8,387 people were displaced due to wildland fires — a 47 per cent increase over the previous peak in 2019. This sharp rise underscores the increasing frequency, severity, and complexity of emergency events in Ontario.

The province continued to strengthen emergency management capabilities by enhancing operational readiness, including deploying Ontario Corps through close collaboration with partners during emergency responses.

To see progress on actions outlined in the Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan in 2025, visit the Appendix.

2025: Ontario Corps

Ontario Corps: Answering the call to protect Ontario

Ontario Corps is a bold new chapter in the province’s history and a key part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario. It unites a provincewide network of skilled professionals, highly trained volunteers and partners that can be mobilized quickly to help communities during emergencies.

Emergencies can happen anywhere and anytime. Floods, wildland fires, tornadoes, extreme heat — it’s no longer a question of if they happen, but when they happen. Being prepared makes all the difference in ensuring we are ready to respond as quickly as possible to help those in need.

The government has invested $15 million in Ontario Corps partners over two years to ensure partners and volunteers have critical equipment and capacity when emergencies happen. With this investment, Ontario has built a network of Ontario Corps partners including non-governmental organizations, private and public sector groups, and Indigenous service organizations that help coordinate trained workers and volunteers to support emergency response.

Partners have purchased rescue vehicles, generators, drones with thermal imaging technology, GPS devices, satellite phones, flood mitigation barriers, canteen trucks, portable shelters, emergency food kits and more as well as delivered training to volunteers to strengthen emergency preparedness and response across the province.

The government also passed the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025 which amended the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. One of the key outcomes was to recognize Ontario Corps as a key provincial resource that can be deployed to support communities.

Through Ontario Corps, the government can deploy specialized equipment and personnel anywhere across Ontario within 24 to 72 hours to help support community response efforts. For example, Ontario Corps partners were deployed after the 2025 spring ice storm that hit Central Ontario.

As well, in summer 2025, many communities across Ontario and Canada were impacted by wildland fires. Working closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources, First Nations leadership and the federal government, the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response deployed Ontario Corps to provide supports for evacuees. Partners delivered critical, life-saving supplies to communities threatened or hit by wildland fires, including backup generators, air purifiers, air scrubbers, N95 masks and infant care supplies.

Additionally, we are expanding Ontario Corps to bring on new partners with a range of new capabilities. Together, our partners and volunteers will protect Ontario to strengthen the resilience of communities across the province.      
 

Progress on Goal 1 – One window for all Ontarians

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The province continues to modernize and strengthen Ontario's approach to emergency management. In 2025, the province passed the  Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025, which strengthens the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response’s leadership role in coordinating emergency management activities with partners.

Coordinating Ontario’s Response to an Unprecedented Wildland Fire Season

During the 2025 wildland fire season, Ontario showed leadership, collaboration and resilience in coordinating emergency response and evacuation support for communities in Northern Ontario and Manitoba over a period of five consecutive months.

Ontario experienced one of the most intense fire seasons in its history. The province recorded 643 wildland fires, a 44 per cent increase from 2024. These fires burned nearly 600,000 hectares, which was almost three times Ontario’s 10-year average.

Dry, windy conditions produced an intense start to the season requiring restricted fire zones and mutual aid support to manage challenging wildland fires. Through mutual aid partnerships, Ontario was able to import critical resources to support fire suppression operations, including personnel, equipment and aircraft from Alberta, Québec, British Columbia, New Brunswick and the U.S. Throughout the 2025 wildland fire season, Ontario was able to export more resources than it imported, deploying 409 personnel, six aircraft, and equipment to partner agencies across Canada and the U.S., reflecting our longstanding role as a net contributor in mutual aid efforts.

The province organized the safe evacuation, hosting and return of 8,387 people affected by wildland fires. This included 6,080 residents from Ontario First Nation communities and 2,307 evacuees from Manitoba. On average, people who were evacuated because of wildland fires were hosted for approximately one month. Ontario worked with partner ministries, municipalities, First Nation communities, federal partners and Ontario Corps partners to provide wraparound supports that evacuees needed during their stays like meals, recreational activities, health care supports and educational programs.

Ontario demonstrated its readiness to respond by helping reduce stress and disruption for people who had to leave their homes. By acting quickly, providing safe places to stay and offering the services people needed while they were away, the province helped communities stay safe, connected and supported during a difficult time.

Ontario also worked with First Nation partners and the Government of Canada to share insights and lessons learned to improve planning for future wildland fire seasons at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management and National Indigenous Organization leaders’ meetings in November 2025 hosted and co-chaired by Ontario.

Ontario’s initiatives at work in 2025 included:

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Modernizing Ontario’s emergency management legislation:

On December 3, 2025, the Ontario government passed the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025. Informed by partner and stakeholder feedback, the legislation has enabled a more effective, coordinated and comprehensive approach to provincial and community emergency management by:

• Strengthening the role of the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response as the one window for coordinating provincial emergency management activities.
• Recognizing Ontario Corps as a provincial emergency management resource that can be deployed to support communities.
• Supporting municipal emergency management by allowing flexibility for municipal programs based on needs and capacity. 
• Enhancing clarity and accountability by outlining roles and responsibilities, and clarifying processes for municipal declarations of emergency and requests for assistance.   

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Advancing national emergency management priorities:

In November 2025, Ontario hosted, and co-chaired, along with the Government of Canada, meetings of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management and National Indigenous Organizations leaders in Toronto. They came together to share lessons learned from the 2025 hazard season, identified ways to improve collaboration and outcomes for the 2026 hazard season and discussed national priorities such as emergency management infrastructure and technology. They also supported updating the Emergency Management Strategy for Canada.

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Supporting Indigenous-led emergency preparedness:

Ontario continues to collaborate with Indigenous partners to support community-led emergency management preparedness. In March, the province held a full-day First Nations Emergency Management Capacity Building Workshop. The workshop covered flood and wildland fire planning, included a drone demonstration for hazard detection and flood mitigation and shared lessons from past emergencies.

In October, the province hosted Resilience in Mind: 2025 Annual Flood and Wildland Fire Symposium in Thunder Bay. The event brought together 180 participants, including First Nations, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and postsecondary partners. The event focused on strengthening relationships between First Nations and emergency management professionals to support culturally informed emergency response, and enhancing community preparedness through knowledge sharing, workshops and tabletop exercises.

For more progress updates in 2025 related to Goal 1, visit the Appendix.

Collaborations in action across Ontario

Supporting Indigenous youth in emergency management

In May 2025, the province strengthened its commitment to inclusive and community‑focused emergency management by attending Camp Molly, hosted in Lac Seul First Nation. Held in partnership with the Independent First Nations Alliance ( IFNA), an Ontario Corps partner, Camp Molly is a four‑day camp that encourages young girls, non‑binary and two‑spirit youth to explore the diverse career paths in the fire service.

This event brought together youth from IFNA member Nations. Participants developed hands‑on skills, engaged directly with women working in emergency services and gained experience in emergency management activities related to fire hazards, including fire prevention practices and how to share public education messages that support community safety.

The event provided an opportunity for Ontario’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response to meet with participants, instructors and community leaders, highlighting the province’s commitment to supporting the next generation of emergency management professionals.

Progress on Goal 2 – Proactive planning and monitoring

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Ontario continues to use data and technology to help plan for future emergencies. The province also continues to invest in provincial and community supports that help improve emergency preparedness and response.

Supporting Municipal Preparedness and Response for Emergencies

Ontario supports a coordinated and resilient emergency management system that reflects local needs. As part of this work, the province took part in the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario ( AMO) Conference in August. At the conference, the province held a workshop with municipal leaders and officials. The workshop presented an emergency scenario to show how municipalities can work with the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response to request provincial support before, during and after emergencies.

These supports include local Provincial Emergency Operations Centre ( PEOC) coordination, field officers, preparedness grants, emergency management training and Ontario Corps resources ranging from trained volunteers to logistical support and specialized equipment from partners. The province also described recent legislative changes that give municipalities more flexibility and reduced administrative work during emergencies.

By engaging directly with municipal partners at the conference, the province helped ensure that local needs inform provincial work and that communities have the supports, tools and partnerships needed to keep Ontarians safe.

Ontario’s initiatives at work in 2025 included:

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Modernizing training for provincial and community emergency management professionals:

The province released several new and updated emergency management courses in 2025 to strengthen emergency preparedness. This includes new Incident Management System training, refresher courses and a new course on nuclear emergency management. These courses help improve coordination, clarify roles and support stronger decision-making during emergencies allowing partners to prepare for and respond to different emergency situations effectively.

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Investing in emergency preparedness:

The province continues to invest in local emergency preparedness through the third round of the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant. This program provides funding to help small and medium-sized communities and First Nations purchase emergency management supplies, equipment and services.

Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and help improve local readiness and response. In the 2025-2026 round, $5 million in grants will be awarded to 115 applicants. This brings the total investment to $15 million over three years, benefitting 342 communities and First Nations in Ontario.

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Enhancing provincial and local emergency planning:

The province updated its Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment program. The update gives provincial, municipal and community partners a shared, evidence‑based process to understand risks and plan for emergencies.

New guides, tools and resources help improve risk analysis and support inclusive, coordinated, community-focused emergency planning. The province also released the first Provincial Risk Assessment, which highlights Ontario’s top and emerging hazards.

For more progress updates in 2025 related to Goal 2, visit the Appendix.

Collaborations in action across Ontario

Working with Indigenous partners to support community-driven emergency management capacity

In 2025, the province supported culturally informed emergency management training by adapting and delivering youth‑focused programming with Indigenous organizations.

Working with the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario ( IPCO), the province delivered basic training and led a youth‑adapted tabletop exercise as part of their annual Emergency Management Indigenous Youth Career Initiative program. This hands‑on learning provided First Nations youth with an opportunity to learn about emergency roles, practise problem‑solving skills and explore career options in emergency management and public safety.

The province also supported Beausoleil First Nation’s three‑week Emergency Services Training Camp by providing customized Basic Emergency Management and Incident Management System training for youth learners. Participants gained practical skills through interactive sessions designed to meet different learning needs and reflect community priorities. The camp ended with a guided tour of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, where youth learned how provincial emergencies are coordinated and spoke with emergency management staff at the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response.

These partnerships supported community-driven emergency management capacity and expanded opportunities for Indigenous youth interested in these career pathways.

Progress on Goal 3 – Practiced and prepared emergency response

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Ontario is expanding training, exercises and local response supports so communities are practiced, informed and ready to respond to emergencies.

Supporting Communities Impacted by the 2025 Spring Ice Storm

In March 2025, a severe ice storm impacted several communities in Central Ontario. The storm left nearly 400,000 homes and businesses without power and caused property damage across the region. The province coordinated emergency operations to support the areas most impacted and to help restore critical infrastructure.

The province deployed ministry staff and Ontario Corps partners to several municipalities that were impacted by the storm to provide on‑the‑ground leadership and operational support. Together, they operated call centres and supported local Emergency Operations Centres by assisting with planning and evacuation centre logistics. They also worked directly with hydro operators, helped prioritize the deployment of generators at essential sites and coordinated debris removal, playing an important role to stabilize communities.

Ontario Corps partners including GlobalMedic, Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, Team Rubicon, Feed Ontario, Attachment and Trauma Treatment Centre for Healing ( ATTCH) Niagara, and The Salvation Army contributed:

• 4,100 wellness checks for vulnerable populations in person or by phone
• 2,572 personal hygiene items
• 1,124 blankets/pillows/towels
• 3,725 meals and food hampers
• coordination of 7,580 individuals who visited warming centres shelters
• nine generators
• psychological support and counselling services for 195 people. 

Ontario Corps volunteers contributed more than 6,000 hours of service.

The province also launched two financial assistance programs for municipalities, small businesses, small farms and not-for-profit organizations impacted by the ice storm.

These efforts ensured communities received the supports they needed and played a key role in keeping people safe during a large‑scale weather event.

Ontario’s initiatives at work in 2025 included:

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Advancing emergency readiness through province-wide exercises:

In 2025, Ontario led, participated in and/or supported 79 exercises and drills across the province. These exercises allowed participants to practise how to respond to situations such as flooding, power failures, cyber security incidents and severe weather. They help responders understand their roles and prepare them for when these emergencies happen.

Ontario also updated its Provincial Exercise Program Framework. The framework gives clear steps for planning and improving exercises, including for provincial, nuclear and federally led events.

Through its exercise program, the province continues to strengthen a coordinated emergency management system that is ready to respond to a range of situations effectively.

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Advancing nuclear emergency preparedness:

Ontario introduced a revised Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan. This plan serves as a guiding framework for how provincial ministries, municipalities, nuclear energy facilities and federal partners respond in the unlikely event of a nuclear or radiological emergency.

The revised plan is based on a technical study and input from partners and experts. It applies to new large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors. It also considers increased electricity demand and lessons learned from past nuclear events around the world.

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Enhancing provincial operations capabilities:

The province continues to develop a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters which will support provincial emergency operations and become the future home of Ontario Corps.

The province has engaged with partners to inform the new headquarters and awarded the contract to complete the functional programming. This work will define the specific functions, activities and operational needs of the facility. This step marked important progress to establish a modern, centralized hub that will support emergency preparedness and response across Ontario.

For more progress updates in 2025 related to Goal 3, visit the Appendix.

Collaborations in action across Ontario

Supporting nuclear emergency preparedness and multi-jurisdictional coordination

To support Ontario’s growing nuclear sector and help the province stay ready to respond to complex emergencies, Ontario participated in the Cobalt Magnet 2025 exercise in March 2025. Led by the U.S. Federal Government, Cobalt Magnet 2025 was a large‑scale, joint Canada‑U.S. nuclear emergency response exercise. It was the largest full‑scale nuclear emergency exercise ever conducted in North America, bringing together more than 3,000 participants from over 100 organizations, including provincial ministries, the Government of Canada, municipal partners, nuclear operators and all levels of governments in the U.S.

This exercise gave Ontario and its partners an opportunity to evaluate provincial, federal and U.S. nuclear emergency response plans under realistic and time‑sensitive conditions. Teams tested coordination processes, validated decision‑making structures and assessed operational readiness across nuclear preparedness activities. This included public alerting, protective action decisions, cross-border coordination and planning for long‑term recovery.

By taking part in this large-scale exercise with domestic and international partners, Ontario confirmed its commitment to maintaining a world‑class nuclear emergency management system and helped ensure the province remains safe, practiced and prepared as its nuclear sector grows.

Moving forward

Ontario continues to work with partners to protect Ontario — before, during and after emergencies. 

Key initiatives moving forward include:

• Continuing to modernize provincial leadership and support community needs by implementing amendments made through the  Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025.  Ontario will continue to work with partners to implement the legislative changes and ensure approaches reflect community needs today and in the future. Ontario will also continue to support communities with the tools they need to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
• Building a modern Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters. Ontario will continue to strengthen emergency preparedness and response by advancing the development of a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters which will support the province’s work to prepare for and respond to all types of disasters, and be the future home for Ontario Corps.
• Building up volunteer and partner capacity through Ontario Corps. Ontario will strengthen operational readiness through the continued expansion of Ontario Corps. This includes expanding partnerships, bolstering volunteer training and providing equipment and supplies needed during emergencies.

Together, these efforts support a safe, practiced and prepared Ontario.

To learn more about the work of the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, including how to stay safe, practiced and prepared for emergencies, visit: ontario.ca/MEPR.

Appendix: Key progress on the goals and actions in the Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan

Goal 1 – One window for all Ontarians

Strengthen Ontario's governance and accountability by establishing a one-window for provincial emergency management coordination

• Created the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response to lead emergency management coordination across Ontario.
• Led a coordinated whole-of-government response with partners during the 2025 wildland fire season to support timely decisions and provide help to communities across several jurisdictions.
• Continued building relationships and sharing knowledge with postsecondary partners, including signing 13 Memorandums of Understanding.
• Worked with other governments by co-chairing the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers and Deputy Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management forums and hosting the November meetings of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management with National Indigenous Organizations leaders to support national emergency management priorities.
• Advanced Ontario’s Cyber Security Strategy by introducing new requirements for hospitals, school boards, colleges, universities and children’s aid societies to identify points of contact for cyber security-related matters, conduct cyber security maturity assessments and report on outcomes and report critical cyber security incidents.
• Supported provincial coordination, public education and planning and response for cyber security incidents by launching new learning modules and practise exercises on the Cyber Security Ontario portal to help people learn how to stay safe online and prepare for cyber security incidents.   
• Expanded the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System initiative, which can be used to support situational awareness during emergencies, including its use during the 2025 ice storm for damage assessments.

Ensure the unique needs of vulnerable populations are considered throughout the emergency management cycle

• Supported Indigenous-led emergency management by working with First Nation partners on the development of a First Nations Community Liaison course and mentoring First Nation Emergency Management Coordinators to become certified to co-teach Emergency Management and Incident Management System courses.
• Supported First Nations emergency preparedness through a First Nations Emergency Management Capacity Building Workshop and by delivering training for First Nations emergency management staff and leaders across Northern Ontario.
• Continued work on multilateral emergency management partnership agreements with First Nation communities, Indigenous organizations and federal partners.
• Demonstrated the province’s commitment to inclusive and community‑focused emergency management by attending Camp Molly, hosted in Lac Seul First Nation.

Increase clarity of Ontario's emergency management approach and structure and reduce administrative work for emergency management partners

• Amended the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act through the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025, to strengthen provincial leadership and coordination of emergency management and support community emergency management.
• Amended the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act through the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025, to help provide consistent and timely direction to Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services funded service providers during extraordinary situations.
• Through the Ministry of Natural Resources, amended the Forest Fire Prevention Act (now called the Wildland Fire Management Act) through the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025, to strengthen collective responsibility for wildland fire management, improve risk awareness, enhance prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response and enforce stronger wildland fire compliance measures.
• Updated ministerial emergency response planning responsibilities to align with current Ontario ministry portfolios.
• Strengthened Ontario’s ability to keep essential digital systems operating during emergencies by developing a Disaster Recovery Framework that provides a consistent government-wide approach to improve identification of critical information technology services while helping to ensure disaster recovery plans are in place to support continuity of operations

Goal 2 – Proactive planning and monitoring

Use data and knowledge to inform emergency management decisions

• Continued to use digital tools and dashboards to share information and support incident assessment and decision making.
• Led the annual Flood and Wildland Fire Symposium, with a focus on building connections between First Nations and emergency management staff to support coordinated and culturally informed responses.

Proactively identify the likelihood and impact of risks in the province

• Released an updated Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Program resource package for emergency management partners, including tools and guidance to strengthen risk planning and analysis.

Identify, support and develop provincial capabilities for top provincial hazards

• Enhanced the Ontario Corps program by funding capabilities such as emergency water purification systems, food trailers and specialized vehicles and by increasing training for volunteers with specialized skills.
• Launched a third round of funding for the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant.
• Facilitated a workshop on Ontario’s modernized emergency management approach at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference.

Develop support resources for emergency management partners

• Released an updated Continuity of Municipal Decision-Making Toolkit, which outlines best practices for delegating authority, emergency procurement and meeting procedures to support municipal continuity planning.
• Modernized training to support partner preparedness and response by launching and revising courses on the provincial emergency management training portal, including a revised nuclear emergency management course.
• Expanded emergency management learning for Indigenous youth with Indigenous partners to deliver tailored training and exercises.
• Supported local emergency planning and promoted awareness during the 2025 Emergency Preparedness Week through events held across Ontario.
• Updated Ontario’s secure portal for community and ministry emergency management partners based on user feedback.
• Continued to implement the Public Education Strategy by supporting culturally appropriate resources for Ontarians and building inclusive partnerships.
• Provided free resources to municipalities and the broader public sector through the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, such as cyber security training, cyber alerts and advisories, cyber security tabletop exercise in a box and a cyber knowledge library. Dedicated channels for information sharing have been established, allowing broader public sector organizations and municipalities to access advice.

Goal 3 – Practiced and prepared emergency response

Implement a Provincial Exercise Program and review, update and create new provincial emergency response plans

• Updated the Provincial Exercise Program Framework, which guides Ontario’s approach to exercises, and continued work with partners on developing the 2027 Provincial Priority Exercise.
• Participated in Cobalt Magnet 2025, a joint U.S.-Canada full-scale nuclear emergency response exercise.
• Updated and published the Provincial Emergency Response Plan to reflect the creation of the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response and confirm its role as the one window for provincial emergency management coordination.
• Published a revised Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan , which reflects findings from an updated technical study and aligns with industry best practices for nuclear emergency response planning.

Enhanced provincial surge capacity through Ontario Corps

• Invested $15 million in Ontario Corps partners over two years to ensure partners and volunteers have critical equipment and capacity when emergencies happen to support response.
• Continued to recruit and train volunteers for Ontario Corps and updated the Ontario Corps volunteer portal.
• Continued work on the future Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters by awarding the contract to complete the functional programming, which will identify the functions, activities and operational needs of the facility.
• Deployed Ontario Corps and the provincial Incident Management Team several times in 2025 to support emergencies across Ontario, including the spring Ice Storm.
• Through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, launched two financial assistance programs to support municipalities, small businesses, small farms and not-for-profit organizations impacted by the March 2025 ice storm.
• Deployed Field Officers and Ontario Corps to support local response to a storm at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and surrounding area in June 2025, after extensive storm damage forced the park’s closure and the evacuation of 300 visitors.
• Deployed Field Officers and Ontario Corps to support local response to a storm at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and surrounding area in June 2025, after extensive storm damage forced the park’s closure and the evacuation of 300 visitors. Through the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the province invested $4.75 million to rebuild and upgrade the provincial park.