Disasters are increasing in frequency and severity across Canada. There were 195 major disasters identified in the Canadian Disaster Database that struck Canada between 2008 and 2018. Combined, these disasters have cost tens of billions of dollars in damages and displaced hundreds of thousands of people and due to increased scale, outstrip local and provincial resources quickly. This has led to and increased “ Request for Assistance” from Provinces to the Federal Government and the Canadian Armed Forces taking on greater responsibility over the last decade as the “force of choice” that can support Canadians in their time of need. A national debate has emerged, questioning the capacity of the CAF, due to personnel shortages and an increased Operational tempo, to continue as the primary action arm to Federal government disaster response.
This discussion will initially lay out the present Federal frameworks for Emergency Management, the historic CAF response metrics and provide some context for the ongoing pressures on the force, demonstrating the gaps that have emerged. Having established the need, the study will use several case studies to explore the options available to generate a hybrid skilled volunteer/professional response element that would seek to fill this emergent space and the steps necessary to fully realize its potential. Drawing on both practitioner experience and the contemporary Emergency Management Literature, the discussion will hope to expose the audience to the contemporary Canadian Disaster Landscape, current policy frameworks, current pressures on the status quo and an option to Government to invest in human capital to mitigate impact on the Canadian population.