Doug Ford unveils Ontario Corps to respond to natural disasters, other emergencies

Ontario is assembling volunteers to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies in the province, Premier Doug Ford announced Friday.

The group, dubbed “Ontario Corps,” will be made up of skilled professionals and can be mobilized across the province to provide on-the-ground assistance when needed, including setting up emergency shelters, cleaning up debris, and providing food services and flood protection to affected communities.

Ford said the province piloted the response team earlier this month in Gravenhurst, when 140 centimetres of snow fell on the area and triggered a local state of emergency.

“That's a great example of what Ontario Corps will do in communities impacted by extreme weather events or natural disasters. It's going to be a game changer for emergency management in Ontario,” the premier said at a Friday afternoon news conference.

Ahead of Friday’s announcement, the province said it had procured flood mitigation barriers, drones, water pumps, chain saws, and air purifiers, all of which can be deployed within 24 to 72 hours of a disaster taking place anywhere in Ontario.

Ford said the group will be funded by the government’s previously announced $110 million investment over three years to strengthen Ontario’s emergency preparedness and response.

The province said the creation of the group was inspired by agencies like AmeriCorps, which operates south of the border and boasts 200,000 members.

The premier also announced that the province will establish an Ontario Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters in Etobicoke that will help to provide more streamlined support when disaster strikes.

Those interested in joining the corps can do so here.