Uber Canada joins Ontario emergency response network

The Government of Ontario has added Uber Canada to its Ontario Corps emergency response network, expanding the province's transport support during disasters.

Under the partnership, the provincial government says Uber Canada will help move people, donated goods and emergency supplies when communities are affected by floods, fires, storms and other incidents. It can also offer vouchers for free or discounted rides for community members and first responders travelling to evacuation and reception centres, medical centres and other destinations.

Uber Canada may also be used to deliver meals and hygiene products, transfer donated goods between warehouses and donation centres, and help coordinate larger shipments of relief supplies. The work will sit within Ontario Corps, a provincial network of partners and volunteers set up to support local emergency response, launched by Premier Doug Ford in 2024.

The network can be mobilised within 24 to 72 hours, claims Queen's Park. Resources available through Ontario Corps include personnel, debris-removal tools and machinery, supplies, flood barriers and drones.

Ontario has used the scheme during several recent emergencies, including this year's spring flooding and the previous year's ice storm and wildland fire response. During the spring floods, partners and volunteers filled and placed sandbags, supported an evacuation centre and provided mental health support.

Jill Dunlop, Ontario's Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, said adding Uber would broaden the system's transport options during crises.

Ontario Corps is also recruiting volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds as a provincial effort to build a standing network that can be called on quickly, rather than assembled from scratch after a disaster begins.

Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, linked the move to the province's wider transport planning and emergency response needs. The approach has become more prominent as provincial and local authorities respond to repeated flooding, severe storms and wildfire-related disruptions.

"When emergencies happen, communities need transportation options they can count on," he said.

The company joins dozens of other partners, including Habitat for Humanity, St. John Ambulance and Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association.

Uber Canada said the partnership would allow it to support both the movement of people and the delivery of goods when local systems are under strain. The company operates in parts of Ontario where emergency authorities may need extra lift capacity or rapid distribution support.

"In emergencies, access to reliable transportation and logistics can make a real difference in keeping people safe and communities connected," said Laura Miller, Head of Public Policy and Communications at Uber Canada. 

The province is also preparing a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters set to be completed this year, which will become the future home of Ontario Corps and serve as a 24/7 emergency command centre equipped with the technology needed to coordinate response efforts across Ontario.