‘Canada needs a plan’: Okanagan MP calls for national wildfire force

By Logan Lockhart
Victoria News
July 23, 2024
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Richard Cannings

South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings says Canada needs to “do things differently” as wildfires continue to rage nationwide and dozens of evacuation orders remain in place. Cannings, who serves as the NDP Emergency Preparedness and Climate Change Resilience critic, reiterated his call to the federal government to create a National Wildfire Fighting Force. The MP’s call comes as more than 380 blazes burn across B.C. and severe wildfires prompt the evacuation of Alberta’s Jasper National Park. …”Sadly, this is becoming our new normal, and we clearly need to do things differently. Canada needs a serious plan to deal with it — one that supports local efforts to combat these fires.” Cannings says such action would help local fire crews, including volunteer teams, and give Canada “the resources it needs to support people without relying on the military.” 

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