Canada: Public Safety Minister Toews recognizes international day for disaster reduction

Source(s): Government of Canada

Ottawa – The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, made the following statement today acknowledging the United Nation’s International Day for Disaster Reduction. This year’s theme is “Making Children and Young People Partners for Disaster Risk Reduction.”

“The International Day for Disaster Reduction reinforces the importance for all Canadians to take action to reduce their risk to disasters. We all have a role to play in disaster reduction and building community resiliency. When disasters strike, we must individually and collectively be able to adapt to and cope with unexpected events,” said Minister Toews.

Under the UN Hyogo Framework for Action, governments around the world, including Canada, are committed to supporting the efforts of communities to become more resilient. As part of this commitment, Public Safety Canada launched Canada’s National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction last year. Through the National Platform, the Government of Canada is working with provinces and territories, municipalities, non-government organisations, the private sector and academics to reduce risks in communities.

The District of North Vancouver was recognised this year by receiving the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The Government of Canada is working with partners to have more Canadian communities registered under the UN’s Resilient Cities Campaign. Building on these partnerships, Public Safety Canada is hosting the second Annual National Roundtable for Disaster Risk Reduction in Ottawa, on October 18, 2011. The Roundtable brings together various stakeholders and serves as a forum for Canada's ongoing national dialogue on disaster risk reduction.

For more information on the Roundtable, visit Public Safety Canada’s website: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/em/ndms/drr-conf-eng.aspx.

For more information on how to prepare for emergencies, visit: http://www.getprepared.gc.ca and follow @Get_Prepared on Twitter.

Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

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