VAUGEOIS: The Ford government failure to resolve staffing issues in Wildland Firefighting is leaving the province unprotected

THUNDER BAY – Following an urgent fire ban in the Muskoka region and a new ravaging fire in the Kawartha Lakes region Thunder Bay – Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois released the following statement:

“We are nearing the end of the summer, and this government has yet to provide a comprehensive plan to address the wildfires ravaging the province. We have had years of warnings from the Auditor General to address the retention crisis in Wildland Firefighting. Neither Premier Ford, Mike Harris Jr, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, nor Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness, have lifted a finger to address the issue.

“A year ago, Ford’s Minister of Labour promised that Wildland Firefighters would get the resources and respect they deserve with reclassification. Instead of delivering on that promise, the government is still playing games with their livelihoods and our province’s future.

“We are seeing vast forests being destroyed, community after community being evacuated, and people across the province experiencing health crises because of the smoke. Does Muskoka have to burn down to get any action? We need the government to step up before it’s too late.”

Background:

• Ontario has 640 people in the field when we should have 800 – or more – but they cannot hire more because there aren’t enough experienced firefighters available to lead firefighting teams.
• Three water bombers have been grounded for most of the season due to the government’s lack of funding for experienced front-line workers.