Emergency Planning Act, E-8.1

1 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 The Emergency Planning Act being Chapter E-8.1 of the Statutes of Saskatchewan, 1989-90 (effective November 1, 1989) as amended by the Statutes of Saskatchewan, 1992, c A-24.1; 1993, c 4; 1998, c P-42.1; 2002, c C-11.1; 2003, c 29; 2013, c R-9.11; 2019, c S-32.4; 2021, c 12; and 2022, c 7. NOTE: This consolidation is not official. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the original statutes and regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the original statutes and regulations, errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation. 2 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING Table of Contents PART I 18.1 Rules re section 18 orders Title and Interpretation 18.2 Enforcement 1 Short title 19 Termination of emergency declaration 2 Interpretation 20 Local emergency declaration PART II 21 Powers of local authority Emergency Planning 22 Expiry, renewal and cancellation 3 Saskatchewan Emergency Planning established 23 Termination of a local declaration 4 Committee established 24 Dispute to compensation 5 Duties of committee PART III.1 6 Emergency planning districts Disaster Assistance Program 7 Emergency planning district committees 24.1 Regulations 8 Duties of district committee PART III.2 9 Local emergency plans Covid-19 Response And Recovery Matters 10 Duty of local authorities 24.2 Interpretation of Part 11 Mutual aid areas 24.3 Protection from liability 12 Regulations 24.4 Non-application, required closure 13 Minister’s powers and duties 24.5 Non-application, employment and 14 Repealed performance of work 15 Protection from action 24.6 Crown bound 16 Offence and penalty PART IV Repeal and Coming into Force PART III Emergency Period 25 RSS 1978, c C-12 repealed 17 Emergency declaration 26 Coming into force 18 Powers of minister in an emergency 3 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 CHAPTER E-8.1 An Act respecting Emergencies PART I Title and Interpretation Short title 1 This Act may be cited as The Emergency Planning Act. Interpretation 2 In this Act: (a) “chief of emergency management” means the chief of emergency management designated pursuant to section 3; (a.01) “Crown” means the Crown in right of Saskatchewan; (a.1) “district committee” means the district committee of an emergency planning district required pursuant to subsection 7(1); (a.2) Repealed. 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. (b) “emergency” means: (i) a calamity caused by: (A) accident; (B) act of war or insurrection; (C) terrorist activity as defined in the Criminal Code; (D) forces of nature; or (ii) a present or imminent situation or condition, including a threat of terrorist activity as defined in the Criminal Code, that requires prompt action to prevent or limit: (A) the loss of life; (B) harm or damage to the safety, health or welfare of people; or (C) damage to property or the environment; (c) “emergency declaration” means an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council made pursuant to subsection 17(1); (c.1) “emergency period” means the period commencing on the day on which an emergency declaration is made or renewed and ending on the day on which the emergency declaration expires pursuant to subsection 17(4) or is terminated pursuant to section 19; 4 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (d) “emergency planning district” means an emergency planning district established pursuant to section 6; (e) Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 3. (f) Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 3. (g) “local authority” means the council of a municipality; (h) “local emergency declaration” means a local emergency declaration made pursuant to section 20; (i) “minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom for the time being the administration of this Act is assigned; (j) “municipality” includes the Saskatchewan portion of the City of Lloydminster; (k) “mutual aid area” means a mutual aid area established pursuant to section 11; (l) Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 3. (m) “provincial planning committee” means the provincial planning committee established pursuant to section 4; (n) “Saskatchewan Emergency Management Organization” means the unit of SPSA continued pursuant to section 3. (o) “SPSA” means the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 2; 1993, c 4, s 3; 2002, c C-11.1, s 381; 2003, c 29, s 18; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2; 2021, c 12, s 3. PART II Emergency Planning Saskatchewan Emergency Planning established 3(1) Saskatchewan Emergency Planning is continued as a unit of SPSA to be known as the Saskatchewan Emergency Management Organization. (2) The minister may designate an employee of SPSA as the chief of emergency management. (3) Repealed. 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. (4) The chief of emergency management and the officers and employees employed for the purposes of this Act and the regulations shall perform the duties assigned to them by this Act, the regulations and the minister, and may exercise the powers given to them by this Act and the regulations. 1993, c 4, s 4; 1998, c P-42.1, s 42; 2003, c 29, s 19; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. 5 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 Committee established 4(1) The provincial planning committee is established, consisting of those members that may be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. (2) Any members of the provincial planning committee who are not employed by a ministry or agency of the Government of Saskatchewan or a Crown corporation are entitled to remuneration for their services as members and for any expenses they incur while acting as members in accordance with rates fixed by the minister. (3) The chief of emergency management is the chairperson of the provincial planning committee. (4) If the chief of emergency management is absent or unable to perform the duties of the chairperson for any reason, the minister may appoint another person to act as chairperson in the place of the chief of emergency management until the chief of emergency management returns or is able to perform the duties of chairperson, as the case may be. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 4; 1993, s 4, s 5; 2003, c 29, s 20; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. Duties of committee 5 The provincial planning committee shall: (a) prepare an emergency plan for Saskatchewan, for approval by the minister, governing: (i) the provision of necessary services during an emergency; and (ii) the procedures under and the manner in which persons will respond to an emergency; and (b) advise the minister respecting emergency planning matters. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 4. Emergency planning districts 6(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may establish, by order, emergency planning districts for the purpose of organizing intermunicipal emergency planning, training, assistance and emergency operations programs. (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, by order, may: (a) amend the boundaries of any emergency planning district; (b) establish new emergency planning districts; or (c) do both of the things mentioned in clauses (a) and (b). 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 6. 6 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING Emergency planning district committees 7(1) Every emergency planning district shall have a district committee composed of: (a) those persons appointed by local authorities pursuant to subsection (2); and (b) those persons appointed pursuant to subsection (3). (2) Every local authority of a municipality located within an emergency planning district shall appoint a representative to be a member of the district committee. (3) Every: (a) ministry and agency of the Government of Saskatchewan; and (b) every Crown corporation; that is designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a representative to be a member of the district committee. (4) The chief of emergency management, or any member of the district committee designated by the chief of emergency planning, is the chairperson of the district committee. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 7; 1993, c 4, s 6; 2003, c 29, s 21; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. Duties of district committee 8 Every district committee, with the consent of the local authorities, may assist in the formulation of the emergency plans of the local authorities of municipalities situated within the emergency planning district. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 8. Local emergency plans 9(1) Every local authority shall: (a) establish a local emergency measures organization; (b) appoint a person as a local emergency measures co-ordinator; and (c) establish a local emergency planning committee composed of: (i) the emergency measures co-ordinator appointed pursuant to clause (b); and (ii) any other persons the local authority considers necessary. (2) The emergency measures co-ordinator is the chairperson of the local emergency planning committee. (3) Every local emergency planning committee shall establish a municipal emergency plan governing: (a) the provision of necessary services during an emergency; and (b) the procedures under and the manner in which persons will respond to an emergency. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 9. 7 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 Duty of local authorities 10 Every local authority shall at all times be responsible for the direction and control of the local authority’s emergency response unless the minister assumes direction and control pursuant to clause 18(1)(c). 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 10. Mutual aid areas 11(1) In this section: (a) “regional park” means a regional park established or continued pursuant to The Regional Parks Act, 2013; (b) “regional park authority” means a regional park authority constituted or continued pursuant to The Regional Parks Act, 2013. (2) For the purposes of establishing a mutual aid area, a local authority may enter into agreements with all or any of the following: (a) other local authorities; (b) regional park authorities; (c) the member of the Executive Council responsible for the administration of The Parks Act. (3) The purpose of establishing a mutual aid area is to pool the resources of local authorities, regional park authorities and the Crown in order to improve their emergency response capabilities with respect to regional parks, provincial parks designated pursuant to The Parks Act and municipalities located within the mutual aid area. (4) Subject to the limitations set out in The Executive Government Administration Act, the member of the Executive Council responsible for the administration of The Parks Act may enter into agreements with local authorities and regional park authorities for the purposes of establishing a mutual aid area. 1993, c 4, s 7; 2013, c R-9.11, s 34; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2; 2021, c 12, s 4. Regulations 12 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations: (a) assigning to ministries or agencies of the Government of Saskatchewan or Crown corporations all or any part of the responsibility imposed by this Act on the provincial planning committee for the preparation of all or any part of plans or arrangements to deal with emergencies; 8 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (b) delegating to any person or committee appointed pursuant to this Act any of the powers vested by this Act in the minister; (c) Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 8. (d) prescribing any other matter or thing that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary with respect to emergency planning. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 12; 1993, c 4, s 8; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2. Minister’s powers and duties 13 The minister may: (a) review and: (i) approve; or (ii) require modification of; any emergency plan prepared by the provincial planning committee pursuant to clause 5(a); (b) for the purposes of this Act, enter into agreements with: (i) the Government of Canada; (ii) the government of any other province or territory of Canada; or (iii) any agency of a government mentioned in subclause (i) or (ii) that deals with emergency plans; (c) make surveys and studies to identify and record actual and potential hazards that may cause emergencies; (d) Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 9. (e) enter into agreements with and make payments to persons, associations or bodies for the provision of services in the development or implementation of emergency plans prepared pursuant to this Act; (f) conduct public information programs relating to the prevention and reduction of damage in emergencies; (g) subject to the regulations, delegate in writing to the chief of emergency management any powers vested in or duties imposed on the minister by this section; (h) where, in the opinion of the minister, a procedure contained in an emergency plan prepared pursuant to this Act is insufficient to meet the emergency at hand, establish any procedure that the minister considers necessary for the prompt and efficient implementation of that plan; 9 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 (i) require any person: (i) who is engaged or may be engaged in any operations; (ii) who is utilizing or may be utilizing any process; (iii) who is using any property in any manner; or (iv) on whose real property there exists or may exist any condition; that is or may create a hazard to persons or property, to develop a plan and program in conjunction with local authorities to remedy or alleviate the hazard and to meet any emergency that may arise from the hazard. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 13; 1993, c 4, s 9; 2003, c 29, s 22. 14 Repealed. 1993, c 4, s 10. Protection from action 15(1) No action or proceeding lies or shall be commenced against any of the following persons if that person is acting pursuant to the authority of this Act, the regulations or an order made pursuant to this Act, for anything in good faith done, caused or permitted or authorized to be done, attempted to be done or omitted to be done by that person or by any of those persons pursuant to or in the exercise or supposed exercise of any power conferred by this Act or the regulations or in the carrying out or supposed carrying out of any order made pursuant to this Act or any duty imposed by this Act or the regulations: (a) the minister or any other member of the Executive Council; (b) the chief of emergency management; (c) the Saskatchewan Emergency Management Organization; (d) SPSA; (e) the provincial planning committee or members of the provincial planning committee; (f) local authorities or members, employees, officers or agents of local authorities; (g) persons appointed by the minister or local authorities to carry out measures relating to emergencies; (h) persons acting under the minister’s direction or authorization who are acting pursuant to this Act, the regulations or an order made pursuant to this Act; (i) the Crown or its officers or agents as defined in The Proceedings Against the Crown Act, 2019. 10 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (2) The orders, decisions or actions of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (1) shall be final and shall not be reviewed or restrained by: (a) injunction; (b) prohibition; (c) mandamus; (d) certiorari; or (e) otherwise by any court. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the persons mentioned in that section are liable for gross negligence in carrying out their duties under this Act, the regulations or any order made pursuant to this Act. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 15; 1993, c 4, s 11; 2003, c 29, s 23; 2019, c S-32.4, s 8-2; 2021, c 12, s 15. Offence and penalty 16(1) No person shall: (a) contravene any provision of this Act, the regulations or any order made pursuant to this Act; or (b) interfere with or obstruct any person in the exercise of any power conferred or the performance of any duty imposed by this Act, the regulations or any order made pursuant to this Act. (2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction: (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $7,500; or (b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $100,000. 2021, c 12, s 6. PART III Emergency Period Emergency declaration 17(1) When the Lieutenant Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency exists or may exist in all or any part of Saskatchewan, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by order, may make an emergency declaration relating to all or any part of Saskatchewan. (2) In an emergency declaration the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall identify: (a) the nature of the emergency; and (b) the area of Saskatchewan in which the emergency exists. 11 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 (3) Immediately after the making of an emergency declaration, the minister shall cause the details of the declaration to be published by any means of communication that the minister considers is most likely to make those details known to the majority of the population of the area affected by the contents of the declaration. (4) An emergency declaration expires at the end of 14 days from the time the declaration was made unless it is earlier renewed pursuant to subsection (5). (5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may renew an emergency declaration at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the declaration. (6) Subsections (2) to (4) and section 19 apply, with any necessary modification, to any renewal of an emergency declaration. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 17. Powers of minister in an emergency 18(1) On the making of an emergency declaration or a renewal of an emergency declaration and during the emergency period, the minister may: (a) put into operation any emergency plan or program that the minister considers appropriate; (b) authorize or require a local authority to put into effect any emergency plan for the municipality; (c) assume direction and control of the emergency response of a local authority; (d) acquire or utilize any real or personal property that the minister considers necessary to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of an emergency; (e) authorize any qualified person to render aid of a type that the person is qualified to provide; (f) control or prohibit travel to or from any area of Saskatchewan; (g) provide for the restoration of essential facilities and the distribution of essential supplies; (h) provide, maintain and co-ordinate emergency medical, welfare, law enforcement and other essential services in any part of Saskatchewan; (i) cause the evacuation of persons and the removal of persons or live stock and personal property from any area of Saskatchewan that is or may be affected by an emergency and make arrangements for the adequate care and protection of those persons or live stock and of the personal property; (j) authorize the entry into any building or on any land, without warrant, by any person in the course of implementing an emergency plan; (k) cause the demolition or removal of any trees, structures or crops if the demolition or removal is necessary or appropriate in order to reach the scene of the emergency, to attempt to forestall its occurrence or to combat its progress; (l) procure or fix prices for food, clothing, fuel, equipment, medical supplies or other essential supplies and the use of any property, services, resources or equipment within any part of Saskatchewan during the emergency period; 12 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (l.1) cause information to be collected, used or disclosed that the minister is satisfied is necessary to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of the emergency and for no other purpose; (m) conscript persons needed to meet an emergency; and (n) do all acts and take all proceedings that are reasonably necessary to meet the emergency. (2) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the minister may pay compensation for the following: (a) the acquisition or utilization by the minister of real or personal property pursuant to subsection (1); (b) any damage or destruction of real or personal property due to an action of the minister in preventing, combatting or alleviating the effects of an emergency. (3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing any matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary to carry out any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1). (4) On the making of an emergency declaration all persons and agencies involved in the implementation of emergency plans shall comply with any directions of the minister. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 18; 2021, c 12, s 7. Rules re section 18 orders 18.1(1) Section 18 and every order made pursuant to section 18 prevail in the case of any conflict with any other Act, regulation, order, collective agreement, other agreement or other law. (2) An order made pursuant to section 18 remains in force during the emergency period, but may be continued in force for a further period not exceeding 30 days after the day on which the emergency period ends: (a) by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council; or (b) if authorized by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by the minister. 2021, c 12, s 9. Enforcement 18.2 For the duration of an emergency period, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and all police services are authorized to take any reasonable action, including detaining or arresting persons, to enforce: (a) an emergency declaration; or (b) an order made pursuant to section 18. 2021, c 12, s 9. 13 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 Termination of emergency declaration 19(1) When, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council: (a) an emergency no longer exists in an area with respect to which an emergency declaration was made; or (b) it is in the public interest that an emergency declaration be terminated in an area with respect to which an emergency declaration was made; the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall make an order terminating the emergency declaration with respect to that area. (2) As soon as is reasonably practicable after an order is made pursuant to subsection (1) or after the emergency declaration expires pursuant to subsection 17(4), the minister shall cause the order or a notice of the expiration to be made public in any manner the minister considers appropriate, including publishing it on the Government of Saskatchewan’s website. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 19; 2021, c 12, s 10. Local emergency declaration 20(1) At any time when a local authority is satisfied that an emergency exists or may exist, in all or any part of the municipality, it may by resolution make a local emergency declaration relating to all or any part of the municipality. (2) Where: (a) it is not possible to assemble a sufficient number of members of a local authority to pass a resolution pursuant to subsection (1); and (b) a member of the local authority reasonably believes that: (i) a local emergency exists; and (ii) the emergency requires immediate action; a member of the local authority may make a local emergency declaration on behalf of the local authority. (3) In a local emergency declaration, the local authority shall identify: (a) the nature of the emergency; and (b) the area of the municipality in which the emergency exists. (4) Immediately after the making of a local emergency declaration, the local authority shall cause the details of the declaration to be published by any means of communication that it considers is most likely to make those details known to the majority of the population of the area of the municipality affected by the contents of the declaration. (5) Where a local authority makes a local emergency declaration, the local authority shall immediately on making the declaration forward a copy of the declaration to the minister. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 20. 14 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING Powers of local authority 21(1) On the making: (a) of a local emergency declaration, or a renewal of a local emergency declaration pursuant to subsection 22(2) and for the duration of the local emergency declaration, the local authority may: (i) put into operation any emergency plan or program that the local authority considers appropriate; (ii) acquire or utilize any real or personal property that the local authority considers necessary to prevent, combat or alleviate the effects of an emergency; (iii) authorize any qualified person to render aid of a type that the person is qualified to provide; (iv) control or prohibit travel to or from any area of the municipality; (v) provide for the restoration of essential facilities and the distribution of essential supplies; (vi) provide, maintain and co-ordinate emergency medical, welfare and other essential services in any part of the municipality; (vii) cause the evacuation of persons and the removal of persons or live stock and personal property from any area of the municipality that is or may be affected by an emergency and make arrangements for the adequate care and protection of those persons or live stock and of the personal property; (viii) authorize the entry into any building or on any land, without warrant, by any person when necessary for the implementation of an emergency plan; (ix) cause the demolition or removal of any trees, structures or crops if the demolition or removal is necessary in order to reach the scene of the emergency, to attempt to forestall its occurrence or to combat its progress; (x) conscript persons needed to meet an emergency; and (xi) do all acts and take all proceedings that are reasonably necessary to meet the local emergency; and (b) of an emergency declaration pursuant to section 17 and during the emergency period, the local authority may: (i) cause any emergency plan to be put into operation; and (ii) exercise any power given to the minister pursuant to subsection 18(1) in relation to the part of the municipality affected by the declaration. (2) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, where: (a) the local authority acquires or utilizes real or personal property pursuant to subsection (1); or 15 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 (b) any real or personal property is damaged or destroyed due to an action of the local authority in preventing, combating or alleviating the effects of an emergency; the local authority shall cause compensation to be paid for the acquisition, utilization, damage or destruction. (3) Subject to subsection (4), a local authority may, within 60 days after the making of a local emergency declaration, borrow any moneys necessary to pay expenses caused by the emergency including payment for the services provided by the Government of Saskatchewan or by the Government of Canada when the services were provided at the request of the local authority. (4) The power to borrow moneys pursuant to subsection (3) is exercisable only by bylaw of the local authority that is approved by: (a) the minister; and (b) the Saskatchewan Municipal Board, where required by The Municipal Board Act or any other Act governing the local authority; within the 60-day limit prescribed in subsection (3). (5) Notwithstanding any other Act or law, the assent of electors is not required for a bylaw mentioned in subsection (4). (6) A local authority may delegate to any person or category of persons any of the powers that are or may be conferred or duties that are or may be imposed on it pursuant to this Act except the power to make a local emergency declaration. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 21; 2021, c 12, s 11. Expiry, renewal and cancellation 22(1) A local emergency declaration expires at the end of seven days from the time the declaration was made unless it is earlier renewed pursuant to subsection (2). (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may renew a local emergency declaration at any time prior to the: (a) expiration of the declaration pursuant to subsection (1); (b) cancellation of the declaration pursuant to subsection (4); or (c) the termination of the declaration pursuant to section 23. (3) Subsections 20(3), 20(4), 22(1) and section 23 apply, with any necessary modification, to a renewal of a local emergency declaration. (4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may cancel a local emergency declaration or a renewal of that declaration at any time the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate in the circumstances. (5) If the Lieutenant Governor in Council makes an emergency declaration that applies to a municipality, any local emergency declaration made by a local authority relating to the same municipality is of no force or effect unless the Lieutenant Governor in Council specifies otherwise. 16 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (6) Subsection (5) applies regardless of whether the local emergency declaration is made before or after the emergency declaration by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. (7) If the Lieutenant Governor in Council permits a local emergency declaration relating to a municipality to continue in force notwithstanding the existence of an emergency declaration made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council relating to the same municipality, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make any modifications to the local emergency declaration that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary to make the local emergency declaration consistent with the emergency declaration made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 22; 2021, c 12, s 12. Termination of a local declaration 23(1) When, in the opinion of the local authority: (a) an emergency no longer exists in an area with respect to which a local emergency declaration was made; or (b) it is in the public interest that a local emergency declaration be terminated in an area with respect to which a local emergency declaration was made; the local authority shall terminate the local emergency declaration with respect to that area. (2) Immediately when: (a) a termination has been made pursuant to subsection (1); or (b) the local emergency declaration: (i) expires pursuant to subsection 22(1); or (ii) is cancelled pursuant to subsection 22(4); the local authority shall cause the details of the termination, expiration or cancellation, as the case may be, to be published by any means of communication that the local authority considers most likely to make those details known to the majority of the population of the area affected by the contents of the termination, expiration or cancellation, as the case may be. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 23. Dispute to compensation 24 If any dispute arises concerning the amount of compensation payable pursuant to subsections 18(2) or 21(2), the parties to the dispute shall settle the matter by arbitration in accordance with The Arbitration Act, 1992. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 24; 1992, c A-24.1, s 61. 17 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 PART III.1 Disaster Assistance Program Regulations 24.1(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations: (a) establishing a program of disaster assistance; (b) defining the meaning of “disaster” for any disaster assistance program established pursuant to clause (a); (c) prescribing categories of persons eligible for disaster assistance and prescribing different disaster assistance for each category and excluding various categories from all or any type of disaster assistance; (d) prescribing the maximum amount of disaster assistance available to persons eligible for disaster assistance or categories of those persons; (e) prescribing categories of property that are covered or excluded from disaster assistance; (f) prescribing the terms and conditions under which an application for disaster assistance may be made and the manner in which the application shall be made; (g) governing the designation of eligible assistance areas; (h) prescribing the procedures to be followed in taking and processing applications for disaster assistance; (i) authorizing the payment of disaster assistance in accordance with and on the terms and conditions of any agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan respecting disasters; (j) delegating to the minister the authority to: (i) declare areas as eligible assistance areas; (ii) determine the forms and manner of applying for disaster assistance; (iii) extend the time for applying for disaster assistance; (iv) enter into or amend any agreement between the Government of Canada or the Government of Saskatchewan respecting disasters and disaster assistance; (k) respecting terms and conditions pursuant to which disaster assistance is subject; (l) respecting any other matter or thing that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary for the purposes of this Part. (2) A regulation made pursuant to subsection (1) may be made retroactive to the date that this Part came into force. 1993, c 4, s 12. 18 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING PART III.2 COVID-19 Response and Recovery Matters Interpretation of Part 24.2(1) In this Part: “COVID-19 public health emergency” means the public health emergency that was the subject of: (a) the emergency declaration made on March 18, 2020 and renewed from time to time; (b) the emergency declaration made on September 13, 2021 and renewed from time to time; and (c) any subsequent emergency declaration respecting the public health emergency that was the subject of the emergency declarations mentioned in clauses (a) and (b), as renewed from time to time; and includes any period between the emergency declarations mentioned in clauses (a) to (c); “good faith effort” includes an honest effort, whether or not that effort is reasonable; “public health order” means an order given or made with respect to public health by any of the following: (a) the minister; (b) the chief medical health officer pursuant to The Public Health Act, 1994; (c) a public health official of the Government of Canada; (d) a minister or ministry of the Government of Saskatchewan or Canada, or an officer or employee in such a ministry; (e) an agency of the Government of Saskatchewan or Canada or an officer or employee in such an agency; (f) a municipality or an officer or employee of a municipality; (g) a regulatory body having jurisdiction over a person, or an officer or employee of such a regulatory body. (2) A reference in this Part to a person includes a reference to any individual, corporation or other entity, and includes the Crown. (3) Nothing in this Part shall be read as abrogating or limiting any defence or immunity that exists at law. 2021, c 12, s 13; 2022, c 7, s 3. 19 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 Protection from liability 24.3(1) Subject to sections 24.4 and 24.5 and the regulations, no action or proceeding lies or shall be commenced or maintained against any person: (a) as a direct or indirect result of an individual being or potentially being infected with or exposed to COVID-19 on or after March 18, 2020 as a direct or indirect result of an act or omission of the person if: (i) at the relevant time, the person acted or made a good faith effort to act in accordance with: (A) a public health order relating to COVID-19 that applied to the person; and (B) any other federal, provincial or municipal enactment relating to COVID-19 that applied to the person; and (ii) the act or omission of the person does not constitute gross negligence; or (b) with respect to any act or omission of the person on or after March 18, 2020 in relation to the COVID-19 public health emergency if: (i) at the relevant time, the person acted or made a good faith effort to act in accordance with: (A) a public health order relating to COVID-19 that applied to the person; and (B) any other federal, provincial or municipal enactment relating to COVID-19 that applied to the person; and (ii) the act or omission of the person does not constitute gross negligence. (2) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding any conflict or inconsistency in the public health orders or other enactments applicable to the person. (3) A difference in the degree of specificity respecting a matter does not constitute a conflict or inconsistency for the purposes of subsection (2). (4) Subsections (1) and (8) apply regardless of whether the cause of action on which the proceeding is purportedly based arose before, on or after the day on which this section comes into force. (5) Any action or proceeding referred to in subsection (1) or (8) that is commenced before the day on which this section comes into force is deemed to have been dismissed, without costs, on the day on which this section comes into force. (6) No person is entitled to any compensation or any other remedy or relief for the extinguishment or termination of rights pursuant to this Part. (7) This section applies, with any necessary modification, with respect to a person who is vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of another person if subsection (1) or (8) negates the liability of the other person in relation to the act or omission. 20 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING (8) No action or proceeding lies or shall be commenced or maintained against the Crown as a result of anything in good faith done or omitted to be done by the Crown, or by its officers or agents as defined in The Proceedings Against the Crown Act, 2019, in relation to the COVID-19 public health emergency. (9) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of this section, including regulations restricting the protection provided pursuant to subsection (1) or imposing terms and conditions on the protection. (10) A regulation made pursuant to subsection (9) may be made retroactive to a day not earlier than March 18, 2020. 2021, c 12, s 13; 2022, c 7, s 4. Non-application, required closure 24.4 Section 24.3 does not apply with respect to acts or omissions of a person that: (a) occurred while a public health order or other law required the person’s operations to close, in whole or in part; and (b) relate to an aspect of the person’s operations that was required to close under the public health order or other law. 2021, c 12, s 13. Non-application, employment and performance of work 24.5(1) In this section, “dependant”, “employer”, “occupational disease” and “worker” have the same meaning as in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013. (2) Section 24.3 does not apply with respect to any of the following: (a) a cause of action of a worker or of the worker’s dependant with respect to a personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the worker’s employment or an occupational disease; (b) a cause of action of a worker or of the worker’s dependant to which the Workers’ Compensation Board is subrogated pursuant to section 39 of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013; (c) a cause of action of an individual in respect of an actual or potential exposure to or infection with COVID-19 that occurred in the course, or as a result, of employment with a person or in the performance of work for or supply of services to a person; (d) a proceeding arising from a cause of action referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c). (3) In the event of a conflict between The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 and this Part, The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 prevails to the extent of the conflict. 2021, c 12, s 13. Crown bound 24.6 The Crown is bound by this Part. 2021, c 12, s 13. 21 EMERGENCY PLANNING c E-8.1 PART IV Repeal and Coming into Force RSS 1978, c C-12 repealed 25 The Civil Defence Act is repealed. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 25. Coming into force 26 This Act or any provision of this Act comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. 1989-90, c E-8.1, s 26. 22 c E-8.1 EMERGENCY PLANNING REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN Printed by the authority of THE QUEEN’S PRINTER Copyright©2022