Item - 2021.EC25.8

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Requested the Fire Chief and General Manager - Emergency Management, Toronto Fire Services to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the second quarter of 2022 on the progress made regarding the suggestions provided during the October 21, 2021 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee regarding the Toronto East Community Awareness and Emergency Response Association and risk mitigation and preparedness measures.

This report responds to a request from City Council, on May 5 and 6, 2021, that the Director, Office of Emergency Management, meet with the Toronto East Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) Association and local Councillors to establish how the City of Toronto can support the organization. The Director, Office of Emergency Management was asked to provide an update on these discussions to the Economic and Community Development Committee.

The Office of Emergency Management met with the Toronto East CAER and representatives from local Councillors' offices on June 15, 2021 to review the Toronto East CAER's existing risk mitigation and preparedness measures, including its risk communication protocols to inform the public of hazards in the community. The meeting participants also discussed how the City could support and enhance the efforts of the Toronto East CAER.

As a result of the meeting, the Office of Emergency Management worked with the Toronto East CAER and Strategic Communications to develop and implement a communications plan to share information with key partners and the public in advance of the siren system test scheduled for July 24, 2021, including messaging on required protective actions in the event of a chemical emergency. The Office of Emergency Management will use the communications plan for future system tests, and will continue to work with a wide range of community stakeholders to support awareness of, and emergency preparedness for, chemical emergencies.