What to know
- Premier Doug Ford says Ontario has deployed nearly 156 fire crews and about 50 aircraft to fight wildfires across northern Ontario, with more resources on standby.
- The province says it has expanded wildfire funding, hired additional firefighters and is investing $650 million in new water bombers and helicopters.
- Nearly 180 wildfires remain active across northern Ontario, with evacuation orders and widespread air quality warnings in effect.
- NDP Leader Marit Stiles accused the Ford government of failing to prepare for worsening wildfire seasons and called for stronger climate action.
As Ontario continues to be blanketed by smoke from wildfires burning across the province’s north, Premier Doug Ford is highlighting the government’s efforts to battle the blazes while facing sharp criticism from the Opposition over wildfire preparedness and climate policy.
Doug Ford says Ontario is investing heavily in wildfire response
In a video posted to social media, Ford said the province has deployed nearly 156 fire crews and close to 50 water bombers and helicopters to wildfire zones across northern Ontario.
He added that additional resources will be deployed wherever they are needed.
“Our government will not spare a penny to keep people safe,” Ford said.
The premier also pointed to investments the province has made to strengthen its wildfire response, including hiring 100 new wildland firefighters last year and another 70 this year.
Ford said Ontario has doubled base funding for forest firefighting since 2018 and is investing $650 million to add six new water bombers and five helicopters to the province’s aerial firefighting fleet.
He also acknowledged assistance from other jurisdictions across Canada and North America.
“I want to acknowledge the incredible support we are receiving from the governments of Alberta and the Yukon in particular, who have people on the ground and in the air supporting our efforts,” Ford said.
Nearly 180 wildfires remain active across northern Ontario
As of publication, nearly 180 wildfires are burning across northern Ontario, with northwestern Ontario accounting for the majority of active fires.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for several affected communities, while Environment Canada has issued air quality warnings across much of Ontario as wildfire smoke spreads hundreds of kilometres, reaching as far south as New York City.
Marit Stiles says Ontario wasn’t prepared for worsening wildfire seasons
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles took to social media to criticize the Ford government’s approach to wildfire prevention and climate policy, arguing the current crisis is the result of years of underinvestment.
“Doug Ford chose to ignore Ontario’s climate commitments. He chose to let Ontario’s wildland firefighting force shrink year after year while firefighters begged him to fix it,” Stiles said.
She also criticized comments Ford has previously made about the causes of wildfires, saying the premier chose to blame campers instead of addressing the role of climate change.
“And now the federal government is telling us to roll back our climate commitments? Roll them back? Tell that to the people of Collins First Nation,” she said.
Stiles concluded by calling for stronger action to prepare Ontario for the impacts of climate change.
“The smoke may clear in Toronto, but for people in the North, this is their reality,” she said. “They deserve so much better than this.”
