Funding Targets Community-Level Response Capacity Across Province
HALTON HILLS, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing $5 million to bolster emergency preparedness at the community level, directing funds toward equipment, training and infrastructure upgrades designed to improve local response capabilities during crises.
Announced March 20 by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, the funding will be distributed through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG). The program will provide up to $50,000 each to 115 recipients, including municipalities, First Nations communities and Indigenous service organizations.
The investment is part of a broader provincial strategy aimed at enhancing resilience against natural disasters and other emergencies, as climate-related risks and extreme weather events continue to increase.
Focus on Equipment, Training and Infrastructure
The CEPG funding is intended to support a wide range of preparedness initiatives, from upgrading emergency operations centres to acquiring critical supplies such as satellite communications equipment and water purification systems.
“Our government is strengthening the readiness of local communities and organizations to better prepare for any type of emergency,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Whether it’s modernizing an emergency operations centre, like here in the Town of Halton Hills, or investing in a generator to power a warming centre during a winter storm, these investments help to protect communities across Ontario.”
Recipients in this third round of funding will also use the grants to purchase chainsaws, emergency shelters and other essential tools, while allocating resources toward training exercises and public education initiatives.
Halton Hills Receives Targeted Investment
The Town of Halton Hills is among the municipalities receiving funding, securing $30,428 to modernize its Emergency Operations Centre. The upgrades will include an audio-visual conferencing system, portable furniture and equipment that allows the centre to be relocated or re-established in alternate locations if required.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the funding will support annual Incident Management System (IMS) training exercises and the purchase of safety vests for personnel.
Local officials say the investment will have a direct impact on the municipality’s ability to respond to a range of emergency scenarios.
“The province’s investment in our municipality recognizes the importance of emergency preparedness at the local level. We are very pleased that the Town’s application for funding to support our emergency preparedness program was successful. This investment will strengthen our ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies—whether that’s severe weather, flooding, extended power outages or other events that can impact our residents and our community,” said Ann Lawlor, Mayor of the Town of Halton Hills.
Program Expansion Reflects Growing Demand
Since its launch in 2023, the CEPG program has allocated $15 million to 342 recipients across Ontario. The initiative is designed to prioritize smaller and mid-sized communities that may lack the financial resources to independently invest in emergency preparedness infrastructure.
To broaden access, the province implemented a competitive selection process for the latest round, excluding previous recipients to ensure new communities could benefit from the funding.
Officials say the approach reflects increasing demand for localized emergency planning tools and capabilities, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Part of Broader $110 Million Strategy
The $5 million CEPG allocation forms part of Ontario’s larger $110 million commitment to emergency preparedness. The province has emphasized the importance of proactive investment as a means of reducing long-term recovery costs and minimizing risks to public safety.
“Our government was elected to protect Ontario and that’s exactly what this investment is about. These grants will make a tremendous difference for smaller communities like the ones I represent,” said Joseph Racinsky, MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills.
As municipalities continue to face evolving threats ranging from severe weather events to infrastructure disruptions, provincial officials say targeted funding programs like CEPG will play a critical role in strengthening frontline response systems and ensuring communities are better equipped to handle emergencies.
The latest round of funding underscores a continued policy focus on resilience, preparedness and coordinated response—key pillars in Ontario’s approach to managing both immediate and long-term risks.