Achi news desk-
A former fire chief says he has concerns about Nova Scotia’s plan to create a civilian volunteer corps to provide assistance during major emergencies.
Terry Canning, a director with the Nova Scotia Fire Service Association, told a legislative committee today that plans to establish a Nova Scotia Guard sound like a good idea, but he worries the province may be moving too quickly.
In addition, Canning says it remains unclear how the new body will affect resource shortages during emergencies.
In March, Premier Tim Houston said the Nova Scotia Guard was needed because climate change has led to more frequent and intense natural disasters, including increasingly dangerous and damaging floods, hurricanes and wildfires.
Paul Mason, executive director of the province’s Office of Emergency Management, told the committee that the emergency response model that has served Nova Scotia for decades needs to be upgraded to deal with these growing risks.
But some volunteer search and rescue organizations have pushed back against the plan, saying they were not consulted about a new body of volunteers that could drain money and resources from existing volunteer groups.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on May 7, 2024.
