Environment Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2024

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

On your comments, also, about saying that no fire team could have stopped it, if my allegation is actually true that fire suppression private sector partners were actually turned away en route to Jasper, how would you know if these folks wouldn't have been able to stop it at all? They have a very clear track record. As a matter of fact, they're under contract with the Province of Alberta. The Province of Alberta would not have stopped this company from coming into Jasper.

The fire started four days before it reached the town. It sat on somebody's desk. This company had years of negotiations with Parks Canada on fire suppression. They have mobile devices that can be deployed to this. They have told me specifically that they were turned around. As a matter of fact, they show on the video, on the footage of the news, where their fire suppression units were turned around.

Minister, are you very sure in what you're telling me right now that no stone was left unturned and that nobody who could have prevented the fire in Jasper from destroying those buildings was turned away? Are you sure?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

First of all, when it comes to the management of the fire, the incident commanders on the ground make the calls.

Also, when I was with Minister Ellis.... I think you also need to speak with Minister Ellis if you really want to be sure, because at the same time, he was also directly involved. I would say that some of the accusations you are making—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I used the word “allegation”, Minister.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Sorry. That's my mistake.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

If we're going to be nice to each other, it goes both ways.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I apologize. I take that back.

No, that was looked at. That was one of the reasons I went to Edmonton, to work with Minister Ellis directly to make sure that if there was any confusion, it could be addressed very quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

What is it, Mr. Calkins?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I didn't want to interrupt. I can do two things at once. I was listening to the minister. I was simply asking you how much time I have left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Oh, okay. You have 45 seconds.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Please carry on, Minister.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

One of the key things was about what happens to the requests that come in. The incident commander on the ground is making decisions. We needed to make sure that the Alberta provincial operations centre had the right people. We actually, in speaking with Parks Canada, inserted people into their operations centre so that the appropriate people could make the appropriate decisions based on the resources on the ground.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Minister, will you undertake to provide to this committee all documents pertaining to the procurement of equipment, as well as contracts with private sector partners, relating to the fire suppression and mitigation in Jasper National Park since 2017?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Just to clarify here, the province is in charge of the management of the resources. We provide resources in addition to Parks Canada—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

The Government of Alberta does not run—

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

—and then we also provide—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

—the national parks, Minister.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I'm just telling you what was taking place on the ground. I'm sure Parks Canada can provide the appropriate information.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Will you undertake to make sure that those documents are provided to the committee?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I can't give you that, because I am the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, right? I don't have the authority to provide any of that type of work. We can only provide documents based on what my responsibility is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll go now to Madame Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

I was a bit shocked to hear that some public servants received death threats as a result of tweets from Conservative members of Parliament. Every member of Parliament bears the responsibility of protecting all Canadians. Public servants are Canadians too, and many of them live in my constituency.

I would like to ask the members of Parliament to be careful when posting tweets. I know that they like to play with this toy. However, sometimes, it can be serious.

Minister, what do you make of some of the claims we've heard in the House of Commons by a Conservative that fighting climate change actually will do nothing to stop wildfires?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I would say that right now, in our country and the rest of the world, climate change is having a devastating impact. We need to fight it. If the situation gets worse, how does our preparation end up keeping up with Mother Nature? We have a responsibility. It's going to be too late if we don't end up fighting climate change.

Just look at the last 10 years. Canadians are seeing towns that are being completely evacuated. Our towns are being burned. People are being devastated by this. We have to fight climate change. If we don't do as much as we can, just imagine the pattern that we're seeing now getting worse.

My worry is that we will run out of resources, and then what will we do? Last year was a perfect example. Fortunately, we had a lot of international firefighters. We are adding more firefighters as needed.

In addition to wildfires, we're dealing with not just regular floods with atmospheric rivers; one of the bigger concerns I have right now is actually flash flooding because of climate change. To add even greater complexity to it, in places where the ground has been burned four or five feet deep into the ground, with additional rain you now have an additional flood risk as well.

This whole situation will be compounded even further. We do need to do our part to fight climate change. Otherwise, let's put it this way: By the time certain people realize it, it will be too late.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

We may be the first generation to experience such dramatic climate change. We may also be the last generation that can take action to address it. I heard your colleague say that this was the worst fire season ever and that you were already preparing for next year. I'm quite concerned about this.

I'll focus on the town of Jasper and the next steps. We have a disaster financial assistance program. I want to make sure that the town can access that funding. Fortunately, given the joint efforts of federal, provincial and municipal authorities, we saved lives.

That said, the town must be rebuilt. Will this program work for Jasper?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Yes. The disaster financial assistance arrangements does apply, and it will be working through the province for any resources. We have provided the mayor and their team with staff who can provide additional information on how the disaster financial assistance arrangements work.

The Province of Alberta already has a good track record on how that's going to work. We had some discussions on this, and we'll provide any additional resources to make sure they have the full breadth of the information on that.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Okay. Can you confirm that the funding application has been received and approved?