Ottawa Minister Stands by Wildfire Response

As numerous wildfires rage across Ontario, leading to community evacuations and urgent requests for government help, Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, is backing Ottawa’s actions.

“I don’t believe that anything did go wrong in this situation regarding the wildfires in Ontario,” Olszewski told CBC’s The House in an interview airing Saturday.

According to the provincial Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services agency, 129 active fires were reported in northwestern Ontario as of Thursday evening.

During this week’s Assembly of First Nations (AFN) meeting in Ottawa, chiefs passed an emergency resolution on Thursday. They stated that both the federal and Ontario governments are failing northern Ontario First Nations, forcing these communities to arrange their own evacuations due to what the assembly described as a lack of support from emergency management organizations.

The AFN’s resolution urged the federal government to provide emergency assistance to Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, located about 250 kilometers north of Thunder Bay. Their members had to flee by boat when a wildfire swept through their community on Monday.

Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Chief Helen Paavola mentioned in a statement that residents had no choice but to escape using small 12- and 14-foot boats.

“We had no help, they had no help,” Paavola said about the emergency evacuation. “They had to do it on their own, and they did.”

WATCH | Wildfire tears through Namaygoosisagagun First Nation:

Namaygoosisagagun First Nation wildfire damage

Leaders from Namaygoosisagagun First Nation in northwestern Ontario shared this video footage with CBC Indigenous showing parts of the community after a wildfire tore through it July 13.

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty stated that the Ontario government will provide support for Namaygoosisagagun; however, her department will also play a role in that support.

“My heart does truly go out to anyone, First Nations peoples included, that have had to deal with this wildfire situation, that have had to worry and have anxiety about evacuating,” Olszewski told Catherine Cullen, host of The House.

LISTEN | Emergency management minister defends Ottawa’s wildfire response:

The House12:53Wildfires in Canada rankle Republicans

Evacuations due to wildfires can happen quickly; is Canada ready for it? Federal Minister of Emergency Management Eleanor Olszewski responds to claims that both Ontario and Ottawa failed some communities affected by fires this week. She also addresses criticisms from U. S. lawmakers who argue Canada isn’t doing enough about wildfire smoke.

Ontario asking for federal help

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced his government has asked Ottawa for resources such as Canadian Armed Forces assistance for evacuations during northern Ontario’s wildfire crisis.

In a letter directed at Olszewski, Ontario’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response Jill Dunlop requested that the federal government ensure aircraft and crews are prepared for deployment with less than 24 hours’ notice if evacuation assistance is needed.

Dunlop indicated at the time that 15 communities in northern Ontario either started or were considering evacuations.

The following day on social media, Olszewski confirmed receipt of Ontario’s request for federal aid and called it “precautionary in nature.”

“I’ve had constant communication with Minister Dunlop since Monday of this week,” Olszewski told The House. “We are as the federal government indeed standing by and ready to assist Ontario as soon as they provide us with some more detail in terms of what that request will be.”

This past Thursday, Ford mentioned that Ontario requires federal support for purchasing water bombers which could be used nationwide. The next day he revealed his government would buy six firefighting planes as part of a $650-million purchase involving 11 new aircraft.

When asked if Ottawa needs more firefighting planes, Olszewski responded: “At the present time we have sufficient aircraft.”

WATCH | Wildfires burn across Ontario:

Wildfires continue to rage across Ontario, forcing more evacuationsMore communities are under evacuation orders as wildfires spread throughout Ontario; smoke is impacting air quality over much of the province. Premier Doug Ford stated his province is utilizing all available resources for response efforts.

In its budget for 2025 , the federal government allocated $316 million over five years aimed at enhancing Canada’s “national aerial firefighting surge capacity.”

In May , Ottawa utilized funds from this allocationto lease ten new aircraftfor deployment throughout Canada.

“I can advise Canadians thateachand everyoneof those10aircraft – there’sa Bird Dog, fourwaterbombersand[ five ]heavy lift helicopters -they’re allinuseacrossthecountryatthismomentfightingwildfiresandtheyhavebeensincetheseasonstarted,”Olszewskisaid.”Therearenumberofthemin Ontariothetimne.”

Canada ‘s emissionsontherise

Inhissecond”forwardguidance”videolastmonth , Prime Minister Mark Carneyacknowledgedthat Canada ‘semissionswillbehigherinthenextfewyearsthan theywouldhaveotherwisbeen.

“Thechangeswemademakeitso our emissionswillbehigherinthenextfewyearsthan theywereprojectedtobeunderthepreviousgovernment ‘splan ,”Carneysaid.

Julia Levin , associatedirectorof Canadianenvironmentaladvocacyorganization Environmental Defence , criticizedthe Carneygovernment ‘schangeinapproach.

“Thisweek, becauseofthewildfiresmoke, Icouldn’ttakemychildoutsidetoapark ,”Levinsaidin Ottawa.”Familiesacrossthecountryandaroundtheworldaredealingwithmuchworse. Lookat First Nationsfamilieswatchingtheircommunitiesburnedtothegroundagain.

“The climatecrisisisnolongerafuturerisk ,”Levinccontinued.”It’sapresentrealityandit’sbeingpaidforrightnowwith Canadianlivesand Canadiandollars.”

Levinpointedoutthefederalgovernment ‘scourtingofanewpipelineproposalfrom Alberta To Canada’s West Coast , describingtheproposed planas”moreclimate-wreckingfossilfuel infrastructure.”<

Accordingto Alberta’s proposal, theapproximately1 ,200-to1 ,250-kilometrepipelineprojectisexpectedtocost$35.2billionto$43.7 billion, includingsome contingencies. Albertahopesitwillbe completedbetween2032and2034.

Aconditionofthepipelinemovingforwardisa multibillion-dollarplantotransportandstoregreenhousegasemissionsfrom Alberta ’soil sands.

Askedhow she wouldexplainwhythegovernmentisnotprioritizingdecreasingemissionsto Canadiansaffectedbywildfires, Olszewskisaid:”Wehaven’tchangedourcommitmenttoclimateaction, butit’snecessaryforustoadaptourapproachgiven themomentintimethatinwearein.”

“Thatmomentintimeincludes things likeglobaltradetensions, andthatactuallyrequires Albertato make themostofitsnaturalresourcesandtodiversifyourexportmarkets,”shecontinued.”Atthe sametime, we knowthatdisasterssuchaswildfiresarebecomingmoreintenseandtheyarebecomingmorefrequent.”

Olszewskisaidthatthegovernmentandherdepartmentspecificallyareworkingonhelpingcommunitiestopreparefortheclimateimpactsthey’realreadyexperiencing.

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