Statement from Minister Goodale on the Situation in New Brunswick

Ottawa, January 28, 2017 – The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, issued the following statement:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of New Brunswick as they respond to, and recover from, Tuesday’s ice storm. We are saddened by news that it appears to be responsible for two deaths and some injuries.

On Friday, January 27, the Government of Canada received – and accepted – a request from Denis Landry, New Brunswick Minister of Justice and Public Safety, for emergency assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to support the Province of New Brunswick.

States of local emergency have been declared in the region: provincial and municipal assets have been deployed to address the situation. The provincial request identifies a need for a military reconnaissance team to be deployed to the damaged areas across New Brunswick to support emergency response efforts already underway.

We encourage all New Brunswickers affected by the storm to follow alerts issued by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization which has set up numerous reception and warming centers across the province.

Locations of warming centres can be found at: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/public_alerts/public_alert.2017.01.0104.html.

The Government of Canada remains ready to provide any additional assistance that may be required to ensure the province has the necessary resources to address the impacts of this disaster.

The government of New Brunswick remains responsible for the management of the emergency response. Public Safety Canada is responsible for coordinating the federal response. Canadian Armed Forces personnel are in continuous liaison with Public Safety, other federal partners, and the Province of New Brunswick to ensure a synchronized response to situation.”

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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

Information:

Scott Bardsley
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
(613) 991-0657