“The leadership is with the provincial and municipal officials,” Goodale said on Tuesday while touring the damage area, along with Kanata-Carleton MP Karen McCrimmon. Goodale said the federal government has received no formal requests for assistance from provincial or municipal officials, and has had one informal request to provide mapping and surveillance information. In general, the federal government takes on a large role in natural disasters only when the damage is so widespread that the provincial government requests assistance. But there is a behind-the-scenes role the federal government plays through the Government Operations Centre, an emergency-response facility in Ottawa staffed 24 hours a day. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Goodale emphasized that federal officials were in “constant communication” with local officials in case federal assistance is required.

Source: National Post September 25, 2018 21:33 UTC