View source for Public safety in Canada

'''Public safety in Canada''' covers how governments, first responders, communities, and individuals prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. It spans policing, fire and paramedic services, emergency management, disaster risk reduction, cyber security, critical-infrastructure protection, border and transportation safety, and public-health emergencies.

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<div style="font-weight:700; color:#b91c1c; margin-bottom:6px;">At a glance — Public safety in Canada</div>
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Federal lead
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px; overflow-wrap:anywhere;" | [[Public Safety Canada]] (emergency management, national security coordination)
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Core first responders
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Police • Fire services • Paramedic/EMS • Search & rescue (SAR)
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | National alerting
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px; overflow-wrap:anywhere;" | '''Alert Ready''' (TV/radio/wireless) • [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] weather alerts • [[Parks Canada]] bulletins
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Emergency numbers
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | '''911''' (police, fire, ambulance). Health advice/triage: '''811''' where available. Poison info via provincial centres. 
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Key federal partners
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px; overflow-wrap:anywhere;" | [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) • [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) • [[Canadian Cyber Security Centre|Canadian Centre for Cyber Security]] • [[Canadian Border Services Agency|CBSA]] • [[Public Health Agency of Canada|PHAC]] • [[Transport Canada]] • [[Transportation Safety Board of Canada|TSB]] • [[Canadian Armed Forces]] (domestic support)
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! style="text-align:left; width:42%; vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Common hazards
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:4px 6px;" | Wildfire, flood, extreme heat/cold, severe storms/hurricanes, winter blizzards/ice, avalanches, earthquakes/landslides (regional), hazardous-materials incidents, pandemics, cyber threats
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== Who does what ==
; Federal
* '''Public Safety Canada''' coordinates emergency management, disaster assistance, critical-infrastructure protection, and national security policy.
* '''RCMP''' delivers federal policing and, by contract, provincial/territorial/municipal policing in several jurisdictions.
* '''PHAC''' leads federal public-health emergencies; '''Health Canada''' regulates health products and supports risk communications.
* '''Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)''' issues official weather watches/warnings and maintains the national weather service.
* '''Canadian Centre for Cyber Security''' (within CSE) provides cyber-threat advice and incident response coordination.
* '''CBSA''' manages border security and facilitation; '''Transport Canada''' and the '''Transportation Safety Board''' oversee and investigate transport safety.
* '''Canadian Armed Forces''' (CAF) support provinces/territories during major events (e.g., floods, wildfires) on request.

; Provinces & territories
Provinces/territories are responsible for emergency management within their borders (legislation, alerts, evacuation orders) and for most policing, ambulance, and fire services. Examples of EM agencies: EMBC (BC); Alberta Emergency Management Agency; Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency; Manitoba EMO; Ontario EMO; Québec’s Sécurité civile; NB EMO; Nova Scotia EMO; PEI EMO; NL Fire and Emergency Services; NWT MACA; Nunavut EMO; Yukon EMO.

; Municipalities & Indigenous governments
Municipalities operate local emergency plans, 911/dispatch, and first responder agencies. Indigenous governments and communities lead emergency management on their lands, often in partnership with provincial/territorial and federal departments and organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross.

== Emergency numbers & calling guidance ==
* '''Call 911''' for life-threatening emergencies, crimes in progress, fires, serious medical problems, or when someone is in danger.  
* '''Use non-emergency lines''' for delayed police reports or bylaw issues.  
* '''Health advice''' (non-emergency): dial '''811''' where available for nurse advice and system navigation.  
* '''Poison information:''' call your provincial poison centre (in an emergency, call 911).

== Alerts and warnings ==
* '''Alert Ready (wireless/TV/radio):''' urgent, localized alerts such as tornado warnings, evacuation orders, AMBER Alerts, and civil-emergency notices.  
* '''ECCC weather alerts''' (watches, warnings, special weather statements) appear on weather sites/apps and are sometimes relayed via Alert Ready.  
* '''Other channels:''' provincial/territorial alert portals, municipal text/email systems, '''Parks Canada bulletins''' (closures, wildlife, fire risk), '''Avalanche Canada''' advisories, and '''Earthquakes Canada''' notices.

== The emergency-management cycle ==
Canadian practice follows four linked activities:
# '''Prevention/mitigation''' (e.g., flood mapping, FireSmart, seismic retrofits).  
# '''Preparedness''' (planning, training, exercises, public education).  
# '''Response''' (incident command system, unified command, EOCs, mutual aid).  
# '''Recovery''' (re-entry, debris management, financial assistance, mental-health supports, after-action learning).

== Seasonal hazard guide (typical patterns) ==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:92%;"
! Season !! Examples (selected regions)
|-
| Winter || Extreme cold & wind chill (Prairies/North); blizzards/whiteouts (Atlantic, Prairies, North); ice storms (ON/QC); avalanches (BC/AB)
|-
| Spring || River ice break-up & flooding; landslides (BC coast); severe thunderstorms/tornadoes begin (Prairies/ON)
|-
| Summer || Wildfires & smoke (BC/AB/SK/NT/YT); heat events (most regions); severe thunderstorms/tornadoes (Prairies/ON); hurricanes/post-tropical storms (Atlantic, esp. Aug–Oct)
|-
| Fall || Coastal wind/rain storms (Pacific/Atlantic); early snow & freezing rain; lingering wildfire risk in some regions
|-
| Year-round || Earthquakes (BC coast, St. Lawrence/Charlevoix); infrastructure failures; hazardous-materials incidents; cyber incidents; public-health threats
|}

== Personal preparedness (quick start) ==
Have a plan and supplies to be self-sufficient for at least '''72 hours'''.
* Water (2–4 L per person per day), shelf-stable food, infant/pet needs  
* Medications & copies of prescriptions; first-aid kit  
* Flashlights/headlamps, batteries, power bank, phone chargers  
* Battery/hand-crank radio; whistle; multi-tool  
* Cash in small bills, copies of IDs/insurance, home inventory photos  
* Warm layers, rain gear, sturdy footwear; blankets  
* Masks, sanitation items, trash bags; local paper maps  
* Contact list and an out-of-area check-in person  
Know your local hazards, evacuation routes/shelter locations, and how to shut off water, gas, and power safely.

== Evacuations and public notices (terms you may see) ==
* '''Evacuation alert''' – be ready to leave quickly; pack essentials and fuel your vehicle.  
* '''Evacuation order''' – leave now; routes and reception centres will be specified.  
* '''Shelter-in-place''' – stay indoors, close windows/vents; used for hazardous air or security incidents.  
* '''Boil-water advisory''' – bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute (or use bottled water).  
* '''Air-quality/heat alerts''' – reduce outdoor exertion; check cooling centres and hydration guidance.

== Program areas (snapshots) ==
; Policing and community safety
Delivered by municipal/provincial services and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] (federal and contract). Community programs include crime prevention, road safety, and victim services.

; Fire services & wildland fire
Municipal fire departments handle structural/urban response; provinces/territories lead '''wildland fire''' operations (with mutual aid and CAF support when needed). Prevention programs include FireSmart and burn bans.

; Paramedic/EMS
Paramedic services provide pre-hospital care and medical transport; in remote regions, aeromedical services (e.g., provincial air ambulance) are common.

; Search and rescue (SAR)
Ground SAR is coordinated provincially/territorially and delivered by volunteer teams; marine and air SAR involve the Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force, and partners.

; Cyber security & fraud
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security tracks threats and provides guidance; policing partners and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre publish scam alerts (e.g., phishing, investment and romance scams).

; Transportation safety
Transport Canada sets rules/oversight; the Transportation Safety Board investigates occurrences in air, marine, rail, and pipeline modes and issues safety advisories.

; Public health emergencies
PHAC and provincial/territorial health authorities coordinate responses to outbreaks, seasonal respiratory surges, and environmental health risks (e.g., smoke, heat).

== For travellers and outdoor users ==
* Learn local hazards; check '''511''' road conditions and weather forecasts before travel.  
* In parks/backcountry, carry maps/communication (satellite in remote areas), store food to avoid wildlife conflicts, and follow seasonal closures and fire restrictions.  
* Register trip plans where offered; consider PLBs or satellite messengers in remote regions.

== See also ==
* [[Government of Canada]] • [[Emergency management in Canada]] • [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] • [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]]  
* [[Public Health Agency of Canada]] • [[Canadian Armed Forces]] • [[Parks Canada]] • [[National parks of Canada]] • [[Alert Ready]]

== External links (official) ==
* Public Safety Canada — Get Prepared: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca  
* Public Safety Canada — Department overview: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca  
* Environment and Climate Change Canada — Weather alerts: https://weather.gc.ca/warnings  
* Alert Ready (Wireless Public Alerting): https://www.alertready.ca  
* Canadian Centre for Cyber Security — Alerts & guidance: https://cyber.gc.ca  
* Parks Canada — Important bulletins & closures: https://parks.canada.ca/amnc-nmca/imp  
* Transportation Safety Board of Canada: https://www.tsb.gc.ca  
* Earthquakes Canada: https://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca  
* Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca

[[Category:Public safety in Canada]]
[[Category:Government of Canada]]
[[Category:Emergency management in Canada]]