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## Bylaw No. 25-012
## A BYLAW OF LETHBRIDGE COUNTY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WHEREAS the Local Authority of Lethbridge County is responsible for the direction and control of its emergency response and is required, under the Emergency Management Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter E-6.8, (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") to appoint a Regional Emergency Advisory Committee and to establish and maintain a Regional Emergency Management Agency;
AND WHEREAS it is recognized that an emergency or disaster of a jurisdictional or multijurisdictional nature could affect any or all of the following municipalities: Village of Barons, Town of Coalhurst, Town of Nobleford, Town of Picture Butte, and Lethbridge County to such a degree that local resources would be inadequate to cope with the situation; and
AND WHEREAS the Municipalities in the Lethbridge County Region-wish to establish a Regional Emergency Advisory Committee, and a Regional Emergency Management Agency, led by a Regional Director of Emergency Management.
NOW THEREFORE, the Municipal Council of Lethbridge County, in the province of Alberta, duly assembled enacts as follows:
1. This Bylaw may be cited as the Regional Emergency Management Bylaw.
2. In this Bylaw:
- a. Act means the Emergency Management Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter E-6.8.
- b. Chief Elected Official means the Reeve or Mayor for the Municipality. In the absence of the Reeve or the Mayor it can be the person delegated the authority to act on behalf of the Reeve or Mayor.
- c. Council means the Council of Lethbridge County.
- d. Disaster means an event that may result in serious harm to the safety, health or welfare of people or widespread damage to property.
- e. Director of Emergency Management (DEM) means an individual appointed by resolution of Council responsible for the preparation and coordination of emergency plans and programs for the Municipality.
- f. Emergency means a sudden and temporary event that requires prompt coordination of action or special regulation of persons or property to protect the safety, health or welfare of people or to limit damage to property or the environment.
- g. Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee means the committee established under this Bylaw and comprised of a Councillor, or designate, from each of the partnering municipalities of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Partnership.
- h. Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency means the agency established under this Bylaw and comprised of the Directors of Emergency Management, or designate, from each of the partnering municipalities of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Partnership.
- i. Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Partnership means those municipalities who have entered into a joint agreement for the purpose of organizing integrated emergency planning, training, assistance, and emergency operations programs.
- j. Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan (REMP) means the integrated emergency management plan prepared by the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency to coordinate response to an emergency or disaster within the geographic boundaries of Lethbridge County.
- k. Minister means the Minister responsible for the Emergency Management Act.
- I. Municipality means any community as referenced in this Bylaw.
- m. Parties means the Village of Barons, Town of Coalhurst, Town of Nobleford, Town of Picture Butte, and Lethbridge County.
- n. Regional Director of Emergency Management (RDEM) means the person responsible to lead the Regional Emergency Management Agency in the preparation for, response to and recovery from a disaster or emergency;
- o. Regional Deputy Director of Emergency Management (RDDEM) means the person responsible for the duties of the Regional Director of Emergency Management in their absence and represents one of the parties in the partnership;
- p. Regional Emergency or Disaster means an event that impacts more than one member of the Regional Emergency Management Partnership that requires a regional coordination to protect the safety, health or welfare of people or to minimize damage to property.
- q. Regional Emergency Coordination Centre (RECC) means the primary and backup facility established and maintained in accordance with the Regional Emergency Management Plan.
## 3. Council agrees:
- a. To establish a Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee to guide the creation, implementation, and evaluation of the REMP plans and programs and to serve as an advisory function to the Councils of the partnering parties.
- b. Delegate the statutory powers and obligations under the Act to the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee. This excludes the powers to declare, renew, or terminate a State of Local Emergency (SOLE).
3. с. To establish a Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency to act as the agent of each Regional Partner to create, implement, and evaluate the REMP plans and Programs.
## 4. Council shall:
- a. by resolution, appoint one (1) primary and one (1) alternate of its members to serve on the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee;
- b. provide for the payment of expenses of the members of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee and Agency;
- c. by resolution, on the recommendation of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee, appoint one (1) Director of Emergency Management to serve as a Regional Deputy Director of Emergency Management to perform duties required of the Regional Director of Emergency Management in that person's absence.
## 5. Council may:
- a. by Bylaw borrow, levy, expropriate and expend, without the consent of the electors, all sums required for the operation of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency; and
- b. enter into agreements with and make payments or grants, or both, to persons or organizations for the provision of services in the development or implementation of emergency plans or programs, including mutual aid plans and programs.
6. The Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee shall:
- a. consist of one (1) appointed Councillor from the Village of Barons, the Town of Coalhurst, the Town of Nobleford, the Town of Picture Butte, and Lethbridge County of whom will have one (1) vote regarding any matter coming before the committee;
- b. appoint a Regional Director of Emergency Management;
- c. appoint one of the members as the Chair of the Committee, whom will hold the position for two years;
- d. have a quorum of 4 members and a motion or resolution of the Committee may only be passed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the members voting on the motion or resolution;
- e. meet once a year to review the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs;
- f. approve the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan and program;
- g. review and approve the work plan and budget submitted by the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency;
- h. provide guidance and direction to the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency, as per the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation 2(2) (b);
- i. Report to respective councils on the development and status of programs and plans on annual basis;
7. The Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Advisory Committee during an emergency, will:
- a. support the DEM, DDEM or alternate in the management of the emergency response and provide strategic direction as required;
- b. in consultation and coordination with the RECC through the DEM, DDEM or alternate, Committee members may be requested to:
- i. assist with keeping the community informed using established key messages;
- ii. serve as a spokesperson if required;
- ili. engage with other levels of government for financial and resource support;
- iv. provide briefings to other levels of government; and
- v. authorize major expenditures as required.
8. The Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency shall be comprised of one or more of the following as designated by the partnership for representation:
- a. the Regional Director of Emergency Management (serves as the Chair of the Agency) and is responsible for the activation and management of the Agency in the event of an emergency;
- b. the Regional Deputy Director(s) of Emergency Management; and/or
- c. the CAO of each municipality; and/or those appointed by the CAO to represent municipal departments as required.
9. In addition, any public and private organizations may be invited by the Regional Director to provide representative(s) to the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency:
- a. Community employees;
- b. representative(s) from Alberta Health Services;
- c. representative(s) from local EMS providers;
- d. the Local RCMP Detachment, police representative or designate;
- e. the School Division Superintendent, or designate;
- f. representative(s) from adjacent municipalities which have entered into mutual aid agreements with the Municipality;
- g. representative(s) from local industry or industrial associations;
- h. representative(s) from Alberta Emergency Management Agency; and
- i. Anybody else who might serve a useful purpose in the preparation or implementation of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan.
10. The Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency shall:
- a. administer the preparation and implementation of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan and program for the Partnership;
- b. ensure that in the event of an emergency, an individual or group is designated under the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Plan to act on behalf of the Lethbridge County Regional Emergency Management Agency. The designation of an individual or group of individuals to act on behalf of the Agency shall be guided by the following:
- i. In the event of an emergency only affecting one municipality, the local DEM will activate a qualified individual to serve as the Incident Commander. If support is required from the Region, the local DEM will request the support and activation of the Region through the Regional DEM, and
- ii. In the event of a regional emergency or disaster, the Regional DEM will activate the REMP and ensure a qualified individual serves as the Incident Commander for the event.
- c. coordinate all emergency services and other resources used in an emergency; and/or
- d. ensure that someone is designated to discharge the responsibilities specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c);
- e. conduct or update the Regional Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment each year;
- f. develop and implement a regional exercise and training program on behalf of the Partnership;
- g. act as the response agency on behalf of the Partnership in a local or regional emergency;
- h. review the status of the Regional Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs at least once each year;
- i. setup and maintain Regional Command Centres for the Partnership;
- j. use the command, control and coordination system prescribed by the Managing Director of the Alberta Emergency management Agency and the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation;
- k. on an annual basis, report to the Committee, duly assembled, on the status of the Regional Emergency Management Plan and any actions which have been performed.
## 11. State of Local Emergency
- a. The State of Local Emergency will be declared to obtain Ministerial Powers under Section 19(1) of the Emergency Management Act.
- b. In the event of an emergency the power to declare, terminate or renew a state of local emergency under the Act, the powers specified in Section 12 of this Bylaw, and the requirements specified in Section 14 of this Bylaw, are hereby delegated to the Chief Elected Official, who may at any time when it is satisfied that an
emergency exists or may exist, by resolution, make a declaration of a state of local emergency.
12. When a state of local emergency is declared, the following must occur:
- a. ensure that the declaration identifies the nature of the emergency and the area of the municipality in which it exists, and the powers intended to be used;
- b. cause the details of the declaration to be published immediately by such means of communication considered most likely to notify the population of the area affected; and
- c. forward a copy of the declaration to the Minister immediately.
13. Subject to Section 14, when a state of local emergency is declared, Lethbridge County may exercise the powers outlined in Section 24 of the Act.
14. When, in the opinion of the person or persons declaring the state of local emergency, an emergency no longer exists in relation to which the declaration was made, they shall, by resolution, terminate the declaration.
15. A declaration of a state of local emergency is considered terminated and ceases to be of any force or effect when:
- a. a resolution is passed under Section 14 (Section 23 of the Emergency Management Act);
- b. a period of seven (7) days has lapsed since it was declared, unless it is renewed by resolution;
- c. if declared due to a Pandemic, a period of 90 days has lapsed since it was declared, unless it is renewed by resolution;
- d. the Lieutenant Governor in Council makes an order for a state of emergency under the Act, relating to the same area; or
- e. the Minister cancels the state of local emergency.
16. When a declaration of a state of local emergency has been terminated, the person or persons who made the declaration shall cause the details of the termination to be published immediately by such means of communication considered most likely to notify the population of the area affected and the Government of Alberta.
17. No action lies against the Municipality or a person acting under the Municipality's direction or authorization for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith while carrying out a power under the Emergency Management Act or the regulations during a state of local emergency.
18. This Bylaw rescinds the previous emergency management bylaw No. 21-003.
19. This Bylaw shall take effect on the day of final passing thereof.
Given first reading on this 18h day of September, 2025. Given second reading on this 18*h day of September, 2025.
Given second and third and final reading on this 18*h day of September, 2025.
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Dull
Lethbridge Coynty Reeve
2025-09-18
Date
2025-09-18
Date
Chief Administrative Officer