Question Period Note: Canada Wildland Fire Situation

Public Safety Canada’s (PS) Government Operations Centre (GOC) is making preparations for the upcoming cyclical event season. Last year, the (GOC) activated its Cyclical Event Team on April 8, 2025, to provide 24/7 monitoring and reporting on flooding, wildland fires, hurricanes and to coordinate requests for federal assistance (RFA). The Cyclical Event Team was deactivated on September 26, 2025.

Our thoughts remain with Canadians impacted by the wildland fires last year. Thousands were evacuated from their homes, and we are most aware that two Manitobans tragically lost their lives last summer in their community of Lac du Bonnet as a result of wildfire.

The 2025 wildfire season impacted communities across the country due to a very hot and dry summer. Last wildland fire season now overtook 2024 with the second-highest cumulative area burned, behind only 2023. As of September 30, 2025, over 8.9 million hectares burned, more than doubling the 10-year average of 3.8 million hectares. The impacts have been substantial, with over 70,000 people having to evacuate last summer.

The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to working in partnership with provinces, territories, and whole-of-society actors to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies across the country.

This season alone, we responded to 17 requests for federal assistance through the Government Operations Centre. In support of these efforts, the Canadian Armed Forces, federal departments, and non-governmental organizations under the Humanitarian Workforce Program each played vital and distinct roles. Their contributions included the deployment of aircraft for evacuations, the augmentation of firefighting capacity, the coordination of logistics and lodging, and the staffing of reception centres.

Emergencies are a shared responsibility between all levels of government. We remain in close contact with our emergency management colleagues and partners across the country and continue to work together to address what has been a very challenging season. The federal government will continue to support Canadians and their communities. Provinces and territories across Canada continue to step up to assist, and we are grateful for their solidarity.

The Government of Canada has already begin preparing for the season ahead, applying lessons learned from the 2025 wildfire season to strengthen readiness for 2026.

Government Operations Centre

PS’ 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 aims to bring all partners into a common environment to harmonize collective actions and abilities into efficient analysis and action.

During the flooding, wildland fire and hurricane 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 responsible for Emergency Management, on behalf of the federal government, has approved increasing numbers of RFAs for relief efforts from devastating events including the recent impacts from Hurricane Fiona, Atmospheric River events, and 2023 wildland fires.

Requests for Federal Assistance

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. The GOC coordinates formal RFAs from PTs and liaises with key organizations such as the CAF and non-governmental organizations like the Canadian Red Cross through the Humanitarian Workforce program to provide the requested support.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has a responsibility to support First Nations on reserves in emergency management. When the emergency affects a First Nations community, First Nations leadership, depending on relevant emergency management agreements, will work in collaboration with ISC and the PT to assess the emergency and propose a response. If a resolution is not possible through ISC, a RFA may be sought.

The Government of Canada approved 17 requests for federal assistance from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador in response to the 2025 wildland fire season.

If Pressed
Q1 — Emergency Management Responsibilities in Canada

Emergencies are a shared responsibility between all levels of government, but are managed first at the local level. If municipalities need assistance, they request it from the province or territory. If the emergency exceeds 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 to the Government Operations Centre, there is a well-established process in place for managing which 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 17 Requests for Federal Assistance from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador in response to wildland fires during the 2025 season.

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

Through the Requests for Federal Assistance, the Canadian Armed Forces, federal departments and non-governmental organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Team Rubicon and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada also supported Canadians impacted by wildland fires.