OTTAWA, March 15 (UPI) -- The Canadian government Monday formally adopted a federal emergency response plan covering natural disasters to terror attacks.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews made the announcement in Ottawa, saying his department will coordinate large-scale emergencies among other federal departments, provincial and local authorities,

The plan outlines responses to manmade and natural disasters, including floods, forest fires, pandemics, power outages, oil spills and terrorist attacks., the Canwest News Service reported.

Toews said the plan kicks in if a situation directly affects federal assets, services, employees or responsibilities, or spans a number of jurisdictions. Provinces and territories can also request the plan be activated, the report said.

The government came under criticism last November by the auditor general's office for not having a formalized emergency plan, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said. At the time, Toews said the plan existed, but hadn't been approved by Parliament.