Province adds Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario to Ontario Corps initiative aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness
Financial expertise seen as key resource during emergencies and recovery efforts
The Ontario government is expanding its emergency preparedness strategy by adding Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) to the growing Ontario Corps network, a provincial initiative designed to strengthen local emergency response capabilities through partnerships with organizations and trained volunteers.
The announcement, made Sunday by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, marks the latest effort by the province to broaden Ontario Corps’ pool of specialized expertise and improve community resilience during natural disasters and other emergencies.
Under the partnership, CPA Ontario will work with its members and regional associations across the province to support municipalities and local response teams when emergencies occur. The province said the organization’s financial planning, auditing, and risk management expertise could help communities streamline financial operations during both emergency response and recovery phases.
“Being able to partner with CPA Ontario is a critical next step for Ontario Corps to help provide municipalities streamlined financial processes during and after emergencies,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “From first responders and emergency management professionals to Chartered Professional Accountants, it’s all-hands-on-deck when emergencies happen to help communities respond and recover.”
Ontario Corps was launched as part of the province’s broader emergency preparedness strategy and is intended to create a rapid-response network capable of deploying personnel, equipment, and logistical support within 24 to 72 hours following an emergency event.
Ontario Corps continues expanding partner network
The provincial government said municipalities have consistently identified a need for professionals with financial and operational expertise during emergencies, particularly in areas such as budgeting, insurance coordination, procurement oversight, and recovery planning.
CPA Ontario’s inclusion reflects a growing recognition that disaster response extends beyond traditional emergency services and increasingly requires specialized administrative and financial management capabilities.
The organization represents approximately 105,000 members and 19,000 students working across public accounting, finance, government, business, academia, and the non-profit sector. CPA Ontario oversees professional standards and certification requirements for accountants in the province.
“Chartered Professional Accountants across Ontario are driven by a commitment to protect the public interest, bringing trusted expertise and insight when it matters most. Through this partnership with the Ontario Corps, CPAs across the province will have a meaningful opportunity to apply their skills to support communities in times of crisis. The CPA profession will always stand ready to step up and do our part to help our fellow Canadians when they need it most.”
said Carol Wilding, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D, President and CEO of CPA Ontario.
The province said Ontario Corps volunteers come from a wide range of professional and community backgrounds. Participants receive training before being matched with partner organizations based on their experience, availability, and skill sets.
Province increasing focus on emergency readiness
The expansion of Ontario Corps comes as the province continues to face increasingly frequent climate-related emergencies, including flooding, wildfires, and severe winter storms.
According to the ministry, Ontario Corps has already been activated during several recent emergency events, including the 2026 spring flooding as well as the 2025 ice storm and wildland fire responses.
The government said the network can mobilize a range of emergency resources, including trained personnel, debris-removal equipment, flood barriers, drones, and emergency supplies.
CPA Ontario joins a growing roster of Ontario Corps partners that includes Labatt Breweries of Canada, The Home Depot Canada, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Mine Rescue, the Ontario Road Builders’ Association, and Uber Canada.
The province is also investing in long-term emergency infrastructure to support the initiative. Officials confirmed that a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters is under development and will eventually serve as the operational home of Ontario Corps.
The facility is expected to function as a 24-hour, year-round emergency command centre equipped with advanced communications and response technology intended to coordinate province-wide emergency operations more effectively.
The government has positioned Ontario Corps as a central component of its broader public safety and disaster management strategy, emphasizing partnerships between government agencies, private-sector organizations, and skilled volunteers.
As Ontario continues to prepare for increasingly complex emergency scenarios, provincial officials say expanding specialized support networks — including financial and operational expertise — will be critical to ensuring communities can respond quickly and recover efficiently when disasters occur.