Environmental Scan: Emergency Management Policies and Programs for People with Disabilities in Canada MARCH 31, 2020 Authors: Kevin Quigley Kaitlynne Lowe Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected] Scholarly Director of the MacEachen Institute Research Assistant at the MacEachen for Public Policy and Governance at Institute for Public Policy and Governance Dalhousie University. at Dalhousie University. Dr. Kevin Quigley MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance | Page 1 Table of Contents About the MacEachen Institute ............................................................................................................ 4 Opening Note ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Definitions .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 6 Part A ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 10 1.1. Summary of Demographic Information Regarding Persons with Disabilities in Canada .................................................................................................................................................. 12 2. Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 14 3. Discussion of Results .............................................................................................................. 16 3.1. Information Gathering: Decentralized but Not Disaggregated .................................. 16 3.2. Standard Setting: Standards Vary as Do Practices for Developing and Reporting on Them ................................................................................................................................................ 17 3.3. Behaviour Modification: Stigma is A Challenge; Focus on Functional Needs, not Disabilities ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Part B ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 3. Canadian Policy Context ......................................................................................................... 20 3.4. Federal Level ........................................................................................................................... 20 3.4.1. Summary of An Emergency Management Framework for Canada – Third Edition 22 3.4.2. Summary of Canada’s Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities and Special Needs .............................................................................................. 23 3.4.3. Summary of Public Safety Canada ........................................................................ 24 3.5. Provincial and Territorial Level .......................................................................................... 28 3.5.1. Note about MedicAlert Connect Protect .............................................................. 29 3.5.2. British Columbia ......................................................................................................... 30 3.5.3. Alberta ........................................................................................................................... 33 3.5.4. Saskatchewan ............................................................................................................. 35 3.5.5. Manitoba ....................................................................................................................... 38 3.5.6. Northern Canada ........................................................................................................ 45 3.5.7. Ontario .......................................................................................................................... 53 3.5.8. Quebec .......................................................................................................................... 56 3.5.9. New Brunswick ........................................................................................................... 59 MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance | Page 2 3.5.10. Nova Scotia .................................................................................................................. 63 3.5.11. Prince Edward Island ................................................................................................ 66 3.5.12. Newfoundland and Labrador................................................................................... 70 Part C ......................................................................................................................................................... 72 4. International Legal and Policy Context ............................................................................... 72 4.1. Summary of the International Policy Context................................................................. 72 4.2. Sendai Framework ................................................................................................................. 73 4.3. Dhaka Conferences (2015 & 2018) ..................................................................................... 74 4.4. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 78 4.4.1. Canada’s Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .................................................................................................................................. 78 4.4.2. United Kingdom’s Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ........................................................................................................ 81 4.4.3. European Union’s Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ........................................................................................................ 82 4.4.4. Australia’s Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ......................................................................................................................... 83 4.4.5. New Zealand’s Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ......................................................................................................................... 84 5. International Strategies to Integrate Persons with Disabilities into Emergency Management ............................................................................................................................................ 86 5.1. Summary of International Strategies to Integrate Persons with Disabilities into Emergency Management ................................................................................................................. 86 5.2. United Kingdom ...................................................................................................................... 87 5.3. United States of America ..................................................................................................... 89 5.3.1. Resources .................................................................................................................... 89 5.4. European Union ...................................................................................................................... 92 5.4.1. European Disability Strategy 2010–2020 ............................................................. 93 5.4.2. The European Accessibility Act ............................................................................. 94 5.4.3. European Disability Rights Agenda (2020–2030) and European Pillars of Social Rights .............................................................................................................................. 94 5.5. Australia ................................................................................................................................... 96 5.5.1. National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework ................................................... 96 5.5.2. Australia’s National Disability Strategy ............................................................... 97 5.5.3. Research from the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience .................... 98 MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance | Page 3 5.6. New Zealand .......................................................................................................................... 101 5.6.1. National Emergency Plan ....................................................................................... 101 5.6.2. New Zealand Disability Strategy .......................................................................... 102 5.6.3. Towards a Non-Disabling New Zealand (Disability Strategy)– Annual Report 102 Part D ......................................................................................................................................................