Mike Harris

Ontario’s Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris pledged Monday better communication on wildfires after many First Nations communities said they received little to no warning about approaching flames this summer. The government has been criticized for its approach to the wildfire season in northwestern Ontario. First Nations said warnings from the province to evacuate due to fast-moving fires either came too late or not at all. … Residents of 12+ northern communities were forced to leave their homes as about 200 fires raged in July. …“One of the things just looking back that we can already learn is we’ve got to do a little bit better job on communication,” Harris said in Sault Ste. Marie, where he announced a $20-million investment to upgrade two major wildfire attack bases in northwestern Ontario. First Nations leaders have called for a public inquiry into the province’s response to the wildfires, a request that Harris has not committed to fulfilling.