Ontario creates new program to prepare volunteers for emergencies

The Ontario government is asking people 16 years of age and older to join a program that will help the province be better prepared for emergencies, such as natural disasters and public health crises.

Volunteer Corps Ontario will make the volunteers available to government ministries, municipalities, First Nations communities and non-profit organizations, so they can help quickly if an emergency arises.

Premier Doug Ford said many people have stepped up and volunteered during the COVID-19 pandemic to help others in their communities.

He said the new program will ensure the province is ready to respond when the next emergency comes and people need to support each other.

More than 3,700 people in Ontario have registered in a COVID-19 volunteer portal launched last December to match volunteers with public health units and support COVID-19 vaccine deployment.