Question Period Note: Wildland Fires

The severity and magnitude of wildland fires and the length of fire seasons are increasing. Experts in wildland fire science and management expect these trends to continue due to our changing climate. Ongoing wildfires in California and recent record wildfires in Australia and Europe underline the need for national and international collaborations. With the provincial states-of-emergency in BC in 2017 and 2018, and the Fort McMurray fire in 2016, wildfire remains a significant concern for provinces, territories and the public, and continues to receive significant media attention.

• Our government is committed to working with provinces and territories on issues related to wildland fires.
• Climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and fire is an increasing threat to the health and safety of Canadians, critical infrastructure, the environment, and to our natural resource industries, especially forestry. Given this, working with federal colleagues toward adaptation strategies is a priority.
• In addition, we continue to work with the provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers to collaboratively implement the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy.
• Along with our provincial and territorial colleagues, we have just agreed to expand the role of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre to strengthen its already world-class national leadership.
• Budget 2019 invested $156 million in new emergency management resources, including $38.5 million toward wildland fire management through Natural Resources Canada, $48 million to on-reserve FireSmart activities, and $10 million toward an Indigenous Fire Marshall’s Office.
• NRCan annually invests over $13 million in wildfire activities such as fire research and knowledge exchange, support to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, and providing critical operational support through tools such as the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.

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