Response letter from Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety

CA-9

BRITISH COLUMBIA

December 21, 2018

Mr. Brad Sperling Chair Peace River Regional District Box 810, 1981 Alaska Avenue Dawson Creek BC V1G 4H8 Dear Mr. Sperling: Thank you for letter of October 31, 2018 email, regarding your request for immediate review and debrief of the Old Fort Landslide emergency response and agency collaboration as well as the enclosed Peace River Regional District (PRRD) motion regarding the Old Fort landslide I understand Ms. Rebecca Denlinger, Deputy Minister, Emergency Management BC, responded directly to you on November 27, 2018, addressing your questions and concerns.

If there is any more assistance required, please let me know.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Mike Farnworth Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General pc:

Mr. Mark Sieben Ms. Madeline L. Maley Mr. Tony Fiala, Sr. Regional Manager

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Office of the Minister

January 10, 2019

Mailing Address: Parliament Buildings Victoria BC WV 1X4

CA-9 Received DC Office November 7, 2018

November 27, 2018

Reference: 549232

Brad Sperling Chair Peace River Regional District Box 810, 1981 Alaska Ave Dawson Creek, B.C. V1G 4H8 Dear Brad Sperling: Re: Request for immediate review and debrief of the Old Fort Landslide emergency response and agency collaboration Thank you for letter of October 31, 2018 and the enclosed Peace River Regional District (PRRD) motion regarding the Old Fort landslide.

I am relieved to see that most residents affected by this incident are now returning home as I know that this was a very stressful situation for the people of Old Fort. I want to acknowledge the significant efforts of the PRRD and supporting ministries and agencies to ensure the safety of residents, and in supporting the restoration of services and access to facilitate their return to home.

I understand that in addition to activating our Regional Emergency Operations Centre to support this incident, Emergency Management BC (EMBC) senior regional staff was present to directly support your emergency operations centre to assist the community in managing the event. I trust that their expertise helped your staff in working through the management of this incident, and provided timely, expert tactical and strategic advice.

Given that residents are returning home, it is my understanding that the request to have EMBC staff on hand to review and observe operations is no longer in effect. With respect to debriefing this incident and reporting back to the PRRD Board and to Ministry officials with the intention of bettering the program, EMBC is very supportive of a review of the event and will participated at the invitation of the PRRD. I would also offer that you may wish to consult with some of your peers from other Regional Districts to share best practices and learn from their experiences in managing significant emergency events.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

Yours truly,

Rebecca F. Denlinger Deputy Minister

cc:

Madeline L. Maley, ADM, EMBC Tony Fiala, Sr. Regional Manager, NEA, EMBC

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Emergency Management BC

Office of the Deputy Minister

January

Mailing Address: PO Box 9850 STN PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9T5 10,Telephone:250-356-9400 2019

Location: 4B 940 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8W 2H3

CA-9

October 31, 2018 Honourable Mike Farnworth PO Box 9010 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

via email: PSSG.Minister@gov.bc.ca

RE: Request for immediate review and debrief of the Old Fort Landslide emergency response and agency collaboration Dear Minister Farnworth, As you are aware a landslide occurred on September 30, 2018 impacting the only road in and out of the community of Old Fort in Electoral Area C of the Peace River Regional District. Over the next seven days the landslide continued to grow and eventually caused the evacuation of the entire community on October 7, 2018. The Peace River Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre has been open and operating since the morning of September 30 th in response to this emergency event.

At the October 25, 2018 meeting of the Peace River Regional District Board of Directors the following motion was passed: Whereas, the Emergency Program Act defines the roles for the Province and local governments when responding to incidents in their jurisdiction; and Whereas the Act indicates that: 5. The Minister may, by order b) require local authorities of the municipalities or electoral areas located within a subdivision referred to in paragraph (a) to prepare, in cooperation with designated ministries, integrated plans and programs, satisfactory to the minister, to deal with emergencies; d) require a person to develop plans and programs in cooperation with one or more local authorities, designated ministries and government corporations and agencies to remedy, alleviate or meet any emergency that might arise from any hazard to persons or property and that is or may be created by

diverse. vast. abundant.

PLEASE REPLY TO: X Box 810, 1981 Alaska Ave, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H8 Tel: (250) 784-3200 or (800) 670-7773 Fax: (250) 784-3201 Email: prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca ppppprrprrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca 9505 100 St, Fort St. John, BC V1J 4N4 Tel: (250) 785-8084January Fax: (250) 785-1125 Email: prrd.fsj@prrd.bc.ca 10, 2019

CA-9 (i) the person engaging in any operation, (ii) the person utilizing any process, (iii) the person using property in any manner, or (iv) any condition that exists or may exist on the person's land Therefore be it resolved that the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) send a letter to the Province’s Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Emergency Management BC outlining the following request: That a knowledgeable and experienced individual be sent to the PRRD Emergency Operations Centre to provide assistance as an observer in order to review and observe the operations and collaboration between the designated ministries, any integrated plans and programs; to advise on operations, to debrief this incident and report back to the PRRD Board and to Ministry officials with the intention of bettering the program.

We look forward to hearing back quickly from your office regarding our request. For questions please contact Shawn Dahlen, Acting CAO, at 250 784-3203 or shawn.dahlen@prrd.bc.ca.

Yours truly,

Brad Sperling, Chair

January 10, 2019