New Partnership Agreement

Capt Les Marshall (Prairie DSPRD) helps Minister Donna Harpauer out of the Army CRV unit after she announces a new partnership with The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, St Johns Ambulance and the Government of Saskatchewan.

REGINA — Should an emergency situation arise or natural disaster occur, Saskatchewan has a new streamlined plan in place to handle it. Donna Harpauer, minister of Social Services, announced Monday that the province has entered into formal agreements with the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and St. John Ambulance to assist in providing emergency programs.  “I think it’s very important to have a formal agreement with them to recognize them (and) to show respect for the services they do,” said Harpauer.  The need to formalize things became apparent after last year’s northern forest fires forced the evacuation of northern residents, she explained.  “It was the largest evacuation of the north that our province ever had — and even though it was chaotic — I toured the evacuation sites where we were housing the evacuees,” said Harpauer. “All the organizations were very organized in looking after everything the people needed.”

Harpauer said the agreements will help to eliminate some of the grey areas so that people will know who is responsible for what.”It will allow the co-ordination between the organization to flow more freely and easily,” she said. “It actually puts in writing the responsibilities of how we will work together in the event of a disaster.”

The Ministry of Social Services contracts the three agencies to deliver various emergency services in the province when needed. The ministry provides emergency social services including food, clothing, shelter, counselling, and registration and inquiry to communities declaring an emergency when a disaster should strike.

 kbenjoe@leaderpost.canwest.com