The Ontario government is taking new steps to help communities stay safe and bounce back faster during emergencies. A new law, called the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025, has been introduced to improve how the province handles disasters like ice storms, floods, and other extreme events.
One of the biggest changes is giving Ontario Corps a bigger role in emergency response. Ontario Corps is a group of trained volunteers and partner organizations that step in when help is needed quickly. In this spring’s ice storm, Ontario Corps worked more than 6,000 volunteer hours, delivered thousands of meals, helped clear trees, checked in on residents, and supported evacuation centres.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop said weather disasters are becoming more common, and Ontario needs to be ready. She says recognizing Ontario Corps in the new law will help protect families and build a stronger and safer province.
This legislation is one of the first big moves since Ontario created a ministry dedicated to emergency preparedness earlier this year. If the law passes, it would help communities build their own emergency plans based on their unique needs and make it easier for the province to respond quickly and effectively when something happens.
The government also plans to build a new emergency headquarters that will run 24/7 all year long. It will be strong enough to stand up to earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, and it will include training space, storage, and special equipment to help with emergencies.
This is the first full update to Ontario’s emergency laws in over 15 years. It’s based on advice from more than 550 local and Indigenous leaders, emergency workers, and community groups who shared ideas on how to make Ontario safer.
The province says these changes are all part of a bigger plan to make Ontario more prepared, better protected, and able to recover more quickly from future disasters.