The Ontario government is expanding its emergency response network by adding Labatt Breweries of Canada as one of the first private-sector partners in Ontario Corps, a move aimed at strengthening the province’s ability to respond quickly to natural disasters and other crises.
The partnership, announced Thursday in London by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, will allow the province to tap into Labatt’s logistics network, production capacity and facilities during emergencies such as wildfires, floods and severe storms.
“Our government is thrilled to welcome Labatt as one of the first private-sector organizations to become an Ontario Corps partner,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “By leveraging Labatt’s supplies, personnel and expertise, we will be well equipped to keep Ontario safe, practiced and prepared for whatever comes our way.”
Ontario Corps, created in 2024, is designed to function as a province-wide network of volunteers and partner organizations that can be mobilized on short notice to assist communities affected by emergencies. The program brings together skilled professionals and trained volunteers capable of deploying equipment such as flood barriers, drones and debris-removal machinery.
Labatt’s addition introduces significant private-sector logistics and production capabilities to the network. Under the agreement, the brewer could provide essential supplies including canned drinking water, transportation trucks, drivers, forklifts, pallets, refrigeration and warehouse space. The company also has the ability to convert its production lines to manufacture emergency items such as hand sanitizer if required.
The brewer’s disaster relief work is already well established. Since launching its Disaster Relief Program in 2012, Labatt has donated more than one million cans of drinking water to communities affected by emergencies across Canada.
In one recent example, the company delivered 40,000 cans of water in July 2025 to Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario, after a wildfire burned more than 33,000 hectares and forced about 2,000 residents to evacuate.
Ontario Corps itself was deployed several times last year, including during wildfire responses and a major spring ice storm, highlighting the province’s increasing reliance on coordinated emergency support systems.
Labatt executives say the partnership formalizes and strengthens the company’s ability to assist when disasters strike.
“At Labatt, supporting the communities where we operate has been a tradition for 178 years. Through our longstanding Disaster Relief Program, where we pause brewing beer to can water, we’ve seen firsthand how safe drinking water and essential supplies can make a difference during a crisis. Labatt’s partnership with Ontario Corps strengthens our ability to respond when Ontarians need it most.” said Jeff Ryan, VP Corporate Affairs, Labatt Breweries of Canada.
The company employs more than 3,500 people nationwide, including over 1,000 in Ontario. Its operations include a major brewery in London, a distribution centre in Mississauga and its Canadian head office in Toronto.
The Ontario government has been expanding Ontario Corps as part of a broader strategy to improve emergency preparedness amid increasing climate-related risks, including more frequent wildfires and extreme weather events.
The province is also planning a dedicated Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters, which will serve as a 24-hour command centre and the future home of Ontario Corps. Officials say the facility will be equipped with advanced technology to coordinate emergency responses and improve deployment speed.
Alongside corporate partnerships, the program is also focused on recruiting individual volunteers. People from all professional backgrounds and skill levels can apply, with training provided before being matched with partner organizations based on their expertise and availability.
The government says building a broad network that combines public resources, volunteers and private-sector capabilities is key to improving resilience.
For businesses like Labatt, the agreement also reflects a growing role for corporate Canada in disaster response, particularly in areas such as supply chains, transportation and manufacturing — capabilities that governments may not be able to scale quickly on their own.
As Ontario continues to expand Ontario Corps, officials say partnerships like this one will help ensure communities can access critical supplies and support when emergencies hit.