Emergency Powers Moved to Emergency Management Minister

Summary#

This is an Order (registration SI/2025-80, published June 4, 2025) that moves certain emergency-management responsibilities from one federal minister to another. Specifically, it transfers the powers, duties and functions under section 7 of the Emergency Management Act from the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience. The Order was made as P.C. 2025-491 on May 13, 2025 and refers to an earlier transfer ( P.C. 2025-418 of March 14, 2025).

What it does#

• Transfers the powers, duties and functions under section 7 of the Emergency Management Act from the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience.
• Does this under the authority of the Public Service Rearrangement and Transfer of Duties Act.
• Notes that these same powers had been moved earlier by P.C. 2025-418 ( March 14, 2025 ); this Order restates that transfer as P.C. 2025-491 ( May 13, 2025 ).

Who's affected#

• The main change is internal to the federal government: staff and units that support the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience.
• Organizations that work closely with federal emergency officials—provincial and territorial emergency-management teams, municipalities, first responders, non‑profits and critical infrastructure operators—may notice a change in which minister or office they deal with.
• The Order itself does not describe how day-to-day services will change. It is unclear from the notice whether any public-facing programs or procedures will be altered.

Why it matters#

• The Order shifts which federal minister is formally responsible for the authorities listed in section 7 of the Emergency Management Act, which affects who leads and is accountable for those federal emergency powers.
• For partners and the public, the practical effect could be a different contact point in Ottawa for federal coordination during emergencies.
• The notice does not explain the contents of section 7, so anyone wanting details about the exact powers moved should look up the Emergency Management Act itself.