Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged new funding for early warning systems and wildfire detection as Ontario deals with its worst year for fires on record.
spoke with Carney about his strategy for wildfires during his visit to Thunder Bay, Ont., on Thursday, where he announced a significant investment in Via Rail.
“What more can be done? We have made major investments and we have more to come in terms of early warning and detection,” Carney said.
This year is already being marked as Ontario’s most severe wildfire season ever, particularly impacting the northwest region. At the height of this year’s wildfire activity, over 2,800 residents were displaced, affecting numerous communities.
This summer saw two First Nation communities in northwest Ontario devastated by wildfires: Namaygoosisagagun First Nation (also known as Collins First Nation) and Whitewater Lake First Nation.
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Ontario wildland firefighters greet Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Thunder Bay Fire Management Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Thursday. (David Jackson/The Canadian Press)
“I think we have to recognize, certainly do recognize this is the worst forest fire season in Ontario history – but the dynamics unfortunately are such that that record may be broken, and we’re preparing for that possibility,” Carney said.
Carney expressed gratitude to those battling the fires, including members of the Canadian Armed Forces who helped evacuate people from Eabametoong First Nation and support communities like Thunder Bay.
“More can be done in terms of investing in firefighting and aircraft and other equipment. More can be done working with communities, particularly Indigenous communities on both traditional methods [of] countering fires, but also for preparations for evacuations and others as those become necessary,” the prime minister said.
After announcing investments at Alstom train manufacturer, he visited the Thunder Bay Fire Management Centre to meet wildland firefighters and learn about their efforts this season.
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Paul Berger is lead organizer with Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet, an environmental advocacy group in Thunder Bay, Ont. He stood outside the Thunder Bay Fire Management Centre on Thursday ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit there, holding a sign that said “Carbon Carney: Our Prime Arsonist.” (Sarah Law/CBC)
While Berger appreciated Carney’s funding boost for passenger rail services, he argued against government spending on fossil fuel projects like the Canada-Alberta deal for building a new oil pipeline to the West Coast.
“To build rail cars and try to get people moving in trains while you’re building pipelines is like being in a leaky boat and drilling holes in the hull and then getting a Dixie cup to bail. It’s not adequate,” Berger said.
“We need much, much tougher climate policies, and we can have climate policies that also make life more affordable and better for Canadians.”
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Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler attends a news conference in Thunder Bay, Ont. on July 21, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 49 First Nations under treaties 9 and 5 posted a statement about climate change and critical infrastructure following Carney’s visit to Thunder Bay on Thursday.
“More than 30 First Nation communities in northern Ontario have no year-round road access; they rely on winter roads that are increasingly threatened by climate change. As temperatures rise; these roads’ seasonal availability grows shorter each year-cutting off communities from essential goods; services; and emergency response they depend on,” stated NAN’s release regarding today’s events.
“The prime minister talked today about investing in infrastructure that will secure ‘our future.’ We see nothing in his announcement so far to convince us that First Nations are included in that future,” NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler continued during Thursday’s news release.
“We are calling on Canada to prove otherwise with equal ambition; urgency; and scale of investment.”
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‘We need much, much tougher climate policies’
Outside the fire management centre, Carney encountered a lone member of Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet, a local environmental advocacy group. Paul Berger, the group’s lead organizer, held up a sign that read “Carbon Carney: Our Prime Arsonist.”“The prime minister talked today about investing in infrastructure that will secure ‘our future.’ We see nothing in his announcement so far to convince us that First Nations are included in that future,” NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler continued during Thursday’s news release.
“We are calling on Canada to prove otherwise with equal ambition; urgency; and scale of investment.”
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