By JAMES GORIYDN Can We st News Service

OTTAWA — The federal government was told to rework a recent, high-profile emergency preparedness guide because Canadians generally dismiss potential disasters and need to be scared’ into action.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day launched a campaign in May regarding the need to plan now for crises of the future, presenting an information book­let that was to be mailed to 12.3 million Canadian homes.

The campaign is characterized by a large, ominous logo reading “72 Hours is your family prepared?’.’ — a time period federal bureaucrats believe Cana­dians should plan to be self-sufficient fol­lowing a disaster.

A $41,642 study, conducted by Ekos Research Associates Inc. and obtained by CanWest News Service, gives fascinat­ing insight into how the government chooses to convey its message to the pub­lic, revealing this approach was chosen over a much more benign campaign fea­turing a collage of smiling citizens get­ting ready for the worst.

“Pictures of happy Canadians did not test well and were not viewed as consis­tent with the messages being conveyed,” the report says.

“There is a need to portray a sense of urgency. If pictures are chosen, consid­eration should be given to using pictures of actual natural disasters

In its key findings, Ekos suggests “given the reasons for inaction on this front, there may he a need to ‘scare’ people into action (i.e. acknowledge these things could happen)”

Indeed, the final version includes the 72 Hours logo, accompanied by photos of a family stacking canned goods in the kitchen, firefighters hijacking a massive blaze and a house sinking into a raging flyer Both versions contained the same information.

The information for the report came from both telephone interviews and in-person focus groups scattered across the country. Sessions took place in Calgary, Moncton, Toronto, Vancouver and Mon­treal.

A spokesman for the Department of’ Public Safety and Emergency Prepared­ness Canada said he could not provide an official for comment on the program.

While the report says the emergency guide was generally considered to be a good idea, Quebec residents in particu­lar questioned its usefulness, though details are not provided.

Not only does the research show how the government intends to approach Cana­dians on this front, it illustrates what appears to be vast apathy surrounding emergency preparation here.

 The document is littered with focus group participant quotes such as: ‘If its minor, nothing really happens. If it’s major, I’m gone,” and “We’re not New Yorkers, we don’t have to be ready for anything ...."

 

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For the first time, tanks, troops, planes and ships will report to a single headquarters to defend both the United States and the North American continent.

The establishment of the new zone means every part of the globe will be covered by the U.S. military, he said.

Unlike NORAD, Northcom will be made up of American military personnel only. No Canadian forces will be assigned to it.