Question Period Note: Central and Eastern Canada Wildfires

To inform on the current wildfire situation in Central and Eastern Canada (note: there is a separate note on Western Canada Wildfires).

• Our thoughts continue to be with those displaced from the wildfires in Quebec, as well as with the first responders who continue to keep residents safe throughout the country.
• The Government of Canada is committed to working with provinces, territories and whole-of-society partners to prevent, respond to and recover from wildfire events.
• The Government Operations Centre (GOC), on behalf of the Government of Canada, is the lead for federal response coordination for emergency events affecting the national interest and works in close collaboration with federal organizations, non-governmental organizations and provincial emergency management partners.
• On June 16, President Biden announced additional US support through the American FireGuard program, which will establish information sharing between NRCan, CIFFC and US partners, providing near real-time information on fires, including early detection.
• In addition to the wildfires in Western Canada, the GOC is maintaining situational awareness of the wildfire situation in Ontario and Quebec.
• I am happy to announce that the situation in Nova Scotia has improved and the wildfires in the county of Shelburne are under control. Recovery discussions are underway with Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada will continue to be there to support the Province.

• We are deeply grateful to the first responders, fire fighters and all those working around the clock hard to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Our provinces embroiled in wildfires have been doing an exemplary job with their provincial firefighting resources.
• In addition to the CAF support that have been deployed, there are at least 4,035 domestic firefighters engaged, supported by 1,759 international firefighters coordinated by CIFFC.
• Firefighters are coming from all over the world to support Canada, with more arriving from Portugal, Spain, US, Chile, South Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Discussions are ongoing with other countries who have offered further support.
• We are extremely thankful for the international firefighter support that Canada has received from other countries.
• On May 31, along with the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Canada announced that we will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross to support Canadians impacted by these events. These donations will provide support to community organizations who are assisting those who have been evacuated from their communities.
• The Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army are providing vital support and emergency shelters for the evacuees in both provinces.
• The Government of Canada remains ready to support and is taking all possible steps to ensure resources are there to support provinces, should the fire situation in Central and Eastern Canada continue to worsen – that includes moving firefighters nationally or internationally, CAF supports, or any of the supports we are currently providing Alberta and Western Canada.
• Residents are reminded to exercise caution and should continue to follow instructions provided by law enforcement and first responders.
Responsive lines (if prompted)
• Emergencies are managed first at the local level. If municipal and local governments need assistance at the local level, they request it from the province or territory. If the emergency overwhelms Provincial/Territorial capacity, the province or territory may seek assistance from the federal government.
• Should a province or territory make an official Request for Federal Assistance (RFA), there is a well-established process in place for managing these requests through the GOC and includes interdepartmental consultation and coordination.

The Government Operations Centre (GOC) is mandated, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to lead and support response coordination of events affecting the national interest. It is an interdepartmental response-focused asset of the Government of Canada, working in support of deputy heads, departments and agencies at the national (strategic) whole-of-government level.
It brings all partners into a common environment to harmonize collective actions and abilities into efficient analysis and action.

Each year, in consultation with partners, the GOC completes a comprehensive risk assessment and planning process in advance of the flooding and the wildland urban interface seasons. The intent is to increase federal preparedness to support provinces and territories for potential spring flooding and urban interface wildfires. The final outcomes include a national risk assessment and the Government of Canada Contingency Plan for each of these cyclical events. The objective of these Contingency Plans is to outline a coordinated structure for an integrated federal response to flooding or wildfire events, in support of the provinces and territories (PT), for regions of concern. The Contingency Plan also provides strategic guidance and orientation for planning and response personnel at the national level.

During the flooding and wildfire seasons, our government maintains continuous communication with our federal and provincial partners, including Indigenous Communities, while monitoring impacts on communities on a 24/7 basis.

Climate change is making natural disasters more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive. In the past few years, the Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the federal government, has accepted increasing numbers of Requests for Assistance (RFAs) for relief efforts from devastating events including the recent impacts from Hurricane Fiona, Atmospheric River events, and BC wildfires.

Current Situation

Ontario (ON)

The APL for ON remains at level 4. There are 50 active wildfires, 40 are out of control. ON has declared a Restricted Fire Zone throughout the entire fire region of ON due to the extreme forest fire hazard.  

ON is monitoring fires of concern near the communities of Attawapiskat FN, Fort Albany FN, Taykwa Tagamou FN, Cat Lake FN, Whitewater FN, Sudbury District, and Temagami FN.

The wildfire north of Cat Lake FN remains out-of-control and has grown to 16,003 hectares in size. Hose lines have been established along the southern end of the fire.

No significant critical infrastructure impacts have been reported because of wildfires in ON.

Provincial resources are being mobilized, domestic total is approx.1,163 resources. There are 16 fixed wing air tankers, 48 helicopters, and 3 firefighting aircraft from the US deployed. On 20 Jun, 102 firefighters from Mexico arrived in ON through coordination with CIFFC, to assist in firefighting efforts in Northern ON.

Northwest ON received scattered precipitation overnight, resulting in a decreased fire hazard in effected areas. Other regions of northern ON continue to have a high to extreme fire hazard risk. Aggressive fire behaviour from existing and new fires is expected across northern ON.

Quebec (QC)

The APL for QC: Not reported (NR). There are 111 active wildfires, 41 are out of control. Approximately 1,297 residents have been evacuated mostly from James Bay, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the North Shore.

An RFA was approved 03 Jun. CAF will support with fire turnover, mop up, hotspot dousing, planning, coordination support, airlift for mobility, reconnaissance, and logistical tasks. On 18 Jun, the province has requested an extension beyond 23 Jun. The request is being processed.

Residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon have begun reintegration. 1,551 evacuees have returned as of 18 Jun. As of 20 Jun, SOPFEU recommended to municipal authorities the evacuation of Lebel-sur-Quévillon (Jamésie); Guéguen Lake Sector (Val D’Or - Abitibi), Villebon Lake Sector (Val D’Or - Abitibi); Matchi Manitou Sector (Val D’Or - Abitibi); and Blanchin Lake Sector (Senneterre - Abitibi).

Cellular network in the town of Chapais was restored temporarily with four days of fuel for the generators at the telecommunication facilities. ISED is reporting that possible telecommunications fibre outages along Highway 113 in QC is disrupting telecommunications for many communities. A temporary link has been established while repairs occur. Damage to the main link is significant, and subsequent work and testing could take several months.

The fire near the Nordic Kraft plant continues to have the potential to impact the plant. A fire prevention team from the company and SOPFEU are onsite. Resources are being mobilized to protect infrastructure; SOPFEU does not anticipate any impact to the plant.

The Éléonore mine near James Bay has completed evacuation of non-essential workers due to an approaching wildfire. Approx. 50 workers will remain on site to maintain critical operations. It is reported that the site contains 250,000 liters of sulfur dioxide in a tank which has not been compromised and is being protected via transportable sprinkler systems and water tankers.

ISC continues to support impacted FN in QC with the coordination of evacuations and resupplies. As of 20 Jun, 361 vulnerable members of the Obedjiwan FN have been evacuated since last Friday due to air quality concerns.        

QNS&L trains to Schefferville have resumed operations at night. Rail lines are held for infrastructure repair crews during day operating periods.  

The telecommunications fiber optic link between Sept-Îles and Schefferville is under repair. A temporary link has been established while repairs occur.  

There are approximately 760 domestic firefighting resources including incident management teams, support staff, and volunteers responding to the wildfires. Aerial resources include 19 air tankers and 76 helicopters. There are 106 firefighters and 3 overhead personnel from France, 140 firefighters from Portugal, 97 firefighters from Spain and 183 firefighters from the United States. CIFCC continues to coordinate additional resources for QC.

A period of drought and rising temperatures are forecasted across the province, particularly northern QC.

Nova Scotia (NS)

NS has indicated that they will cease providing wildfire reports going forward.

The fires event in NS continues to transition the recovery phase.  

All CAF personnel have returned to 5 Cdn Div.

The Government of Canada and the Government of NS have coordinated a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross. Donated funds will be used for both immediate and ongoing relief and recovery efforts in response to the devastating wildfires across the province.

CIFFC

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) is at a National Preparedness Level (NPL) of 5 (Extreme fire danger and load, inadequate agency resource levels, and inadequate ability to respond to resource requests).

Requests for Assistance

When a PT makes an official RFA, there is a well-established process in place for managing RFAs through the GOC at Public Safety Canada, that includes interdepartmental consultation and coordination of all departments as required. The GOC coordinates formal RFAs from the federal government and PTs and also liaises with key organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and non-governmental organizations like the Canadian Red Cross through the Humanitarian Work force program.

When the emergency involves a First Nation (FN) community, FN leadership, depending on relevant emergency management agreements, will work in collaboration with their PTs and/or Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) or regional officials, to assess the emergency and propose a response. If a resolution is not possible at the regional level, a request for assistance may be sought.

The GOC and provincial and territorial partners maintain continuous communication and share situational awareness. The GOC will continue to monitor activities in conjunction with its partners and be prepared to respond to any requests for federal assistance.

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