S-224
Third Session, Fortieth Parliament,
59 Elizabeth II, 2010
SENATE OF CANADA
BILL S-224
An Act to establish a national volunteer emergency response service
first reading, October 26, 2010
THE HONOURABLE SENATOR HARB
4010824
SUMMARY
This enactment establishes a national volunteer emergency response service whose role is to respond to emergencies by supplementing and supporting other emergency personnel.
Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca
3rd Session, 40th Parliament,
59 Elizabeth II, 2010
senate of canada
BILL S-224
An Act to establish a national volunteer emergency response service
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
SHORT TITLE
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the National Volunteer Emergency Response Service Act.
INTERPRETATION
Definitions
2. The following definitions apply in this Act.
“Commissioner”« commissaire »
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the National Volunteer Emergency Response Service appointed under section 9.
“emergency”« situation de crise »
“emergency” means an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians.
“Minister”« ministre »
“Minister” means the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
“Service”« Service »
“Service” means the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE
Establishment
3. The National Volunteer Emergency Response Service is hereby established.
Role
4. (1) The role of the Service is to respond to emergencies by supplementing and supporting the functions of military, police, health and other emergency personnel and service providers.
Direction of Governor in council
(2) The Governor in Council shall direct the Service with respect to which emergencies the Service shall respond to under subsection (1).
Other functions
5. The Governor in Council may make regulations assigning other functions to the Service.
Cooperation with provinces
6. The Service shall carry out its role and functions under sections 4 and 5
(a) in a manner that will not unduly impair the ability of any province to take measures, under an Act of the legislature of the province, for dealing with an emergency in the province; and
(b) with the view of achieving, to the extent possible, concerted action with each province.
Members not paid
7. The members of the Service, including the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, shall be unpaid volunteers.
Qualifications to be member
8. To be a member of the Service, a person must
(a) be at least eighteen years of age;
(b) be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
(c) be of good character; and
(d) meet the requirements established by the Commissioner under paragraph 11(2)(d).
COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE
Appointment
9. The Governor in Council shall appoint a Commissioner of the National Volunteer Emergency Response Service.
Direction of Minister
10. The Commissioner shall carry out his or her duties under the direction of the Minister.
Duties
11. (1) The Commissioner shall direct and manage the Service.
Other duties relating to the Service
(2) The Commissioner shall
(a) recruit and appoint members of the Service;
(b) establish standards for the training of members of the Service;
(c) establish a code of conduct for members of the Service; and
(d) establish requirements, in addition to the requirements under paragraphs 8(a), (b) and (c), that must be met for a person to be a member of the Service.
Duty relating to Emergency Management Act
(3) The Commissioner shall assist the Minister and the other ministers in carrying out their responsibilities under the Emergency Management Act.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
Appointment
12. The Governor in Council may appoint a Deputy Commissioner of the National Volunteer Emergency Response Service who shall act under the direction of the Commissioner.
COMING INTO FORCE
Coming into force
13. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of this Act come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Royal recommendation
(2) No order may be made under subsection (1) unless the appropriation of moneys for the purposes of this Act has been recommended by the Governor General and such moneys have been appropriated by Parliament.
Published under authority of the Senate of CanadaAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada