Government gives itself new emergency powers

The Ontario government has introduced a bill to give it more powers to deal with potential emergencies.

Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter says the legislation, if passed, would give additional powers to the lieutenant governor and the premier in the event of an emergency.

Kwinter says Ontario is safe but it has to be made safer with global threats ranging from avian flu to terrorist attacks to natural disasters.

He says the bill would allow the government to restrict travel, order evacuations and set up emergency shelters and hospitals.

It would also give the government the power to fix prices for goods and services to prevent price gouging and protect jobs for those unable to work because of a declared emergency.

The bill also clarifies under what conditions the province can declare an emergency.

Canadian Press