The opposition is criticizing a recent funding announcement aimed at improving two Ministry of Natural Resources fire bases, calling it merely a temporary fix.
A total of twenty million dollars is being set aside to enhance facilities used by wildland firefighters near Fort Frances and Sioux Lookout.
NDP Critic Guy Bourgouin states that while this is a step in the right direction, the Ford government must adequately fund the wildland fire program.
“And provide the base operating budget firefighters have been asking for in the sum of approximately 300 million per year,” states Bourgouin in a release.
He also emphasizes the need for more local decision-making when it comes to fighting fires.
According to him, much of the command has become centralized and moved away from affected areas.
“People managing fires in northern Ontario need the authority to make decisions locally,” Bourgouin.
“They understand the terrain, the communities, the available resources, the weather, and the conditions on the ground.”
The NDP continues to back First Nations leaders who are calling for a public inquiry into how this year’s fire season was handled.
Thousands had to evacuate due to rampant wildfires this year, many doing so independently. This has raised concerns about how prepared the province was, along with issues regarding communication, evacuation processes, and resource allocation for residents.
“We urge Doug Ford and his ministers to learn from what happened and fix what is not working, and to stop treating northern communities as an afterthought that only gets action after preventable crises worsen,” states Bourgouin.
Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years’ experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms. randy@radioabl. ca.
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