Question Period Note: Support for Firefighters

Recent media reports have highlighted call from the firefighter community for more support, and action to address firefighter shortages, including in rural communities

• The Government of Canada recognizes the essential role firefighters play in keeping us safe.
• The Government of Canada is working to provide firefighters, first responders, emergency workers, volunteers, and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, with leading-edge technology and training to conduct safety operations rapidly, safely and efficiently.
• $269 million has been pledged for provinces and territories to purchase firefighting equipment, and over $39 million for First Nations to provide training to bolster Canada’s emergency response capabilities by incorporating traditional knowledge into how we manage these events.
• The Government of Canada has also committed $37.9 million for wildland firefighting, to provide wildfire response training to 1,000 new firefighters.
• Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada are also implementing a comprehensive action plan to help protect firefighters from harmful chemical flame retardants.
• We are grateful for the tireless work of Canadian firefighters on the front lines, behind the scenes, and in the hearts of our communities. They are making a difference, and I—and all Canadians—are immensely grateful.

Support for Firefighters

The Government of Canada is working to provide firefighters, first responders, emergency workers, volunteers, and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, with leading-edge technology and training to conduct safety operations rapidly, safely and efficiently.

The Government of Canada has committed $37.9 million for wildland firefighting, to provide wildfire response training to 1,000 new firefighters. $269 million has been pledged for provinces and territories to purchase firefighting equipment, and over $39 million for First Nations to provide training to bolster Canada’s emergency response capabilities by incorporating traditional knowledge into how we manage these events.

The Government of Canada has also made commitments to support the well-being of firefighters. Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada are implementing a comprehensive action plan to help protect firefighters from harmful chemical flame retardants. As part of the National Action Plan on Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries, the Government of Canada is making investments to improve research, access to treatment, and help reduce the stigma that still exists in the first responder community. Recently, we have provided the Runnymede Healthcare Centre $1 million in funding to conduct a feasibility study into the development of a facility dedicated to comprehensive rehabilitation-focused programs and services for post-traumatic stress injuries.

FireSmart

FireSmart Canada leads the development of resources and programs designed to empower the public and increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire across Canada. Leveraging partnerships with a comprehensive network of leading wildland fire science researchers allows FireSmart Canada to develop programs and resources that are based on peer reviewed and defendable science.

In 2020, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers approved the union of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and FireSmart Canada in support of an expanded federal mandate to educate Canadians from coast to coast about wildfire prevention and mitigation.

FireSmart Canada continues to act as the national public facing brand encouraging Canadians to take action to make their homes and properties more resilient to wildfire.

Budget 2019 invested $169M towards on-reserve capacity building/preparedness through the Emergency Management Assistance Program at ISC. This included $47.7M for FireSmart investments to enhance First Nations communities’ resilience to wildland fires.

Budget 2021 invested nearly $82M in wildfire resilience efforts, including $29.3M for forest mapping in Northern areas and to support CIFFC to enable expansion of national prevention and mitigation activities, and FireSmart.

Wildfire Management

The Federal Government provides important financial, technical and scientific support for wildfire management across the country. This includes the largest combined financial support for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, through Natural Resources Canada and Parks Canada, to support response capacity across Canada; Parks Canada maintenance of fire management responsibilities in national parks; and the provision of critical fire data through the Canadian Forest Service’s Canadian Wildland Fire Information System to support provincial and territorial planning and decision-making around wildfire management.

Recently, the Government of Canada committed to making significant pro-active investments to combat wildfire events. This includes over $500 million invested through Budget 2022 to provide support to provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities in wildfire management and monitoring. In addition, since 2018, the Government of Canada has invested $3.4 billion for the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to make communities more resilient to the natural disasters caused by climate change. We invite communities to apply for funding to support increased resilience.

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