Question Period Note: Canada Wildland Fire Situation

o The 2025 cyclical event season continues, with wildland fires impacting communities across the country. Public Safety Canada’s (PS) Government Operations Centre (GOC) stood up its Cyclical Event Response Team on April 8, 2025, to provide 24/7 monitoring and reporting on flooding and wildland fires and coordinating requests for federal assistance (RFA).

 Our thoughts remain with Canadians impacted by the wildland fires. Over 70,000 people have had to evacuate this summer, with many remaining displaced from their homes, and we are acutely aware that two Manitobans tragically lost their lives earlier this summer.

 The 2025 wildfire season continues across the country due to a very hot and dry summer. It is the second worst season on record for hectares burned.

 The federal government has responded to 15 requests for federal assistance, which provided critical assistance for both fire fighting and paid evacuations.

 The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to protecting Canadians, and we remain in close contact with our emergency management partners across the country and continue to work together to address what has been a very challenging season.

Government Operations Centre
o PS’ GOC is mandated, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to lead and support response coordination of events affecting the national interest. During the flooding and wildland fire 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.

o When a province or territory (PT) makes an official RFA, there is a well-established process in place for their management, through the GOC, that includes interdepartmental consultation and coordination of all departments as required. To date, there have been 15 requests for federal assistance from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Current Wildland Fire Situation
o The National Preparedness Level is at 2. As of September 25, there are 416 active wildland fires across Canada, 26 of which are out of control. There are seven First Nations impacted by wildland fires; three in British Columbia and four in Manitoba. There are zero international firefighting personnel in Canada.
Nova Scotia
o Nova Scotia remains at Agency Preparedness Level 3. As of September 25, there is one active wildfire. The Long Lake Complex is 8,468 hectares in size and is being held. 20 homes and 11 outbuildings have been lost to the fire. The evacuation order was lifted, and all evacuees returned home by September 20, 2025, in Annapolis County and Trout Lake.

o There is an active RFA for Canadian Armed Forces support for accommodations, staging, refuelling, logistics and access to aircraft maintenance facilities. This RFA was received and approved on August 16, 2025. It was extended on August 24, 2025, until September 12, 2025 and a second time until September 26. A third RFA was approved to extend the use of Canadian Forces Base Greenwood until October 10, 2025.

If Pressed
Q1 — Emergency Management Responsibilities in Canada
 Emergencies are a shared responsibility between all levels of government. They are managed first at the local level and should municipalities need assistance, they request it from the province or territory. If the emergency overwhelms provincial or territorial capacity, the province or territory may seek assistance from the federal government.

Q2 — Requests for Federal Assistance
 Should a province or territory make an official request for federal assistance, there is a well-established process in place for managing these requests through the Government Operations Centre and includes interdepartmental consultation and coordination.

Q3 — What can Canadians do to prepare for emergencies?
 Emergencies can happen at any time and Canadians should always be prepared. Canadians are invited to visit getprepared.ca for information on preparing for emergencies.

Q4 — What type of support has been offered to impacted Canadians?
 The Government of Canada received and approved 15 Requests for Federal Assistance from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador in response to wildland fires.

 Indigenous Service Canada worked alongside Indigenous leadership and provincial colleagues to coordinate response for Indigenous peoples impacted by these wildland fires.

 Non-governmental organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Team Rubicon and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada have and continue to support Canadians impacted by wildland fires.

Q5 — Does Canada need more waterbombers or national aerial firefighting fleet to combat wildfires?
 Wildfire management is primarily the responsibility of provinces and territories within their jurisdictions, including the procurement and deployment of firefighting assets such as waterbombers.
 Coordination of interprovincial and international support is facilitated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which enables resource sharing when requested by jurisdictions.
 Canada currently does not maintain a national fleet of waterbombers. However, we recognize growing concerns about capacity in the face of increasingly severe wildfire seasons. We continue to work closely with federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to assess capacity needs and explore options to strengthen national readiness.
 It’s important to recognize that waterbombers are just one tool among many. Resilience to wildfire requires significant and sustained action to prevent human-caused wildfires, such as through Firesmart initiatives, to proactively reduce risks before wildfires occur, to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities, and investing in post-fire recovery efforts.