Emergency or Public Health Crisis?

Affordable Housing Initiatives Funding 
(Proposed to City of Kitchener Council January 13th, 2020)
Just prior to COVID onset, I found myself trying to better understand our local and provincial emergency response plans. I didn't (and still don't really) understand how our housing or drug poisoning crisis aren't considered adequate in severity/scale and citizen impact to merrit recognition and initiation of these local response mechanisms. From what is displayed as the definition of "Emergency" in our Provincial Acts and Municipal documents, from my first time reading through these documents, it has felt to.

As the scale of these situations has continued to rise over the last few years and the effects on the individuals at risk and too the community and local support services having escalated, my concerns, questions and thoughts in this direction have not  disappeared, but instead grown.   

As I shoot to better understand some portions of our local Emergency Response Plans (ERP's) and how a Public Health Crisis is deemed and determined, I'll toss up some of my questions, thoughts and links to information I stumble upon here too. Admittedly I am no expert in this realm by any means, so in large this will be my "sort through" of the information and insights, as best able sourced from those who better understand these topics. 

​Let's see what "this stuff" is all about. It feels time to discuss it, then again that's just my "nickle". 

Emergency?

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(Click image to view quote source)

​Provincial Act
​Region of Waterloo 
Regional Municipality of Waterloo Administration and Finance Committee - Tuesday, August 15, 2023 (video and info below)
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A few Areas for consideration

As I sort this all further, I've decided to break things down into four main "areas". This may change, but for the moment, in identifying areas that may have value to consider in these particular policies....  
21/11/24
Operational Functions
Housing is not specifically identified as an emergency in the examples listed in the escalation charts (5.2). Rather, it is viewed more as a support mechanism intended to provide brief assistance in situations like those outlined in the examples.

​Additionally, the types of responses required and the protocols guiding them are primarily designed for individuals living in traditional brick-and-mortar homes. The approaches outlined and codified in these protocols are disproportionately framed from the perspective of individuals who are housed, overlooking the unique needs of those who may not have stable housing. 
Benchmarking in Triggering Mechanisms
The experiences of individuals vary based on many factors, including their living conditions. While the impacts and level of risk from emergency situations differ between those who are unsheltered and those in permanent residences, response protocols and the criteria for initiating action do not adequately reflect these differences. 

Example: Extreme Weather Declaration for Cold Weather

Environment and Climate Change Canada issues an extreme weather alert when temperatures drop to -30°C or wind chill is expected to reach minus ​-30° C for at least two hours.

Locally we initiate some of our responses much sooner. (point of reference and more info to follow)

However, for individuals without access to a warm shelter, we also know that the risks begin much earlier then when these criteria are met. A -30°C acting as the threshold for initiating operations and response  fails to account for the experiences of those without a permanent space to seek refuge. 
​ ​
Previously as listed by Region of Waterloo - Updated info to follow:
Text seen quoted below sourced from the "Extreme Cold" webpage by Region of Waterloo
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"Environment and Climate Change Canada will issue an Extreme Cold Warning for Waterloo Region when the temperature or wind chill is expected to reach minus ​30° C for at least two hours.
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At this temperature, exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes. Exposure to these temperatures and wind chill may result in frostbite or hypothermia. When an Extreme Cold Warning is issued for Waterloo Region, Public Health coordinates a community response and Warming Spaces are opened."

​Other municipalities use different temperature thresholds as the starting point for coordinated response measures, with many of them more equitably recognizing the associated risks and considering the impact of various situational factors in determining these measures metrics.

For example:

Hamilton:
"The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton issues a Cold Alert when:
  • The temperature drops, or is expected to drop below -15°C (5°F)
  • The temperature feels like -20°C (-4°F) with wind chill"
(Source)


Toronto:
"The City activates Warming Centres when temperatures reach minus five degrees Celsius and/or when Environment and Climate Change Canada issues a winter weather event warning."
(Source)

​London:
​"Each winter, London experiences periods of extreme cold. The Middlesex-London Health Unit issues cold alerts in the following conditions, when one or more of these criteria are met:
  • Environment Canada forecasts low temperature of -15 C or lower;
  • Environment Canada forecasts wind chill of -20 or lower; or if
  • Environment Canada issues a 'Cold Alert' or 'Cold Warning'. 

When a cold alert is issued, the City of London will initiate our extreme temperature protocol, which may include opening warming centre for residents who require temporary shelter from the cold."
(Source)
Potential for provision of immediate releif and supports

​

Our Local ERP Documents: 

Appendix C - Schedule A -Emergency Response Plan - Public Version 2023

The "Emergency Response Plan Aim" (1.2) identifies the goals of these policies, overall aimed at mitigating communal health and property risks in times of crisis.

Too, as seen *highlighted*, in this area of these documents is that it is not necessary to make an official declaration of emergency to implement these measures. 

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​Section 8.1 identifes that there may be resources (or similarily allocated fundings) able to aid in some response expenses (ie: Fuel if mobile warming buses were initiated)
Unclear terms
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(Click image to view quote source)


​​The definition of an emergency (seen above) as used in the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and our local Emergency Response Plans (ERPs)  confuses me given its own undefined terminologies. 

What equates to "a danger of major proportions" or "serious harm"? Are the situational factors of the "persons" and the disproportionate impacts these impose observed in its consideration? How many people constitutes "persons"? Is this deemed based on a percentage of the population or via another number or approach? 

This seems far too open to interpretation and thereby subject to bias within its application and initiation. The "lens" worn by anyone tasked with determining if these "terms" have been met adequately to merrit response, will clearly impact their decision. 

What is "an accident" or an "act"? Would our choices to date, those that have placed us in this volatile situation not be considered one of these two things? We "acted" when we  made the decisions that ultimately landed us where we are, with neighbours struggling and at risk. Would this not be some form "accident" whether "Intentional or otherwise"? 

Always left with more questions...

​Unsheltered Campaign: 

Information Resources

Region of Waterloo links:  
​Ontario (.ca)
Other​

Public Health Crisis?

Local to Waterloo REgion (2023 Content)