Evidence of meeting #123 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fire.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Government Operations Centre, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I'm happy to jump in.
We have a number of initiatives. Environment Canada has installed a supercomputer to do risk assessments. NRCan, Natural Resources Canada, also has huge scientific satellite arrays that they focus on these issues, and we point out those high-risk areas. Those were all shared with the provinces, starting in February and March of this year.
Liberal
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to follow up on the serious issues that I was raising.
Putting aside the fact that Transport Canada failed to notify this community about a contaminated site, it bears repeating that there is a children's playground close by and that children are playing in that water. This is seven years after Transport Canada was privy to the information that they failed to disclose the findings of the reports included in the Millennium EMS Solutions study.
One of the calls that the nations are asking for is to immediately present a plan and funding to allow for the evacuation by water of Fort Chipewyan in the event of a natural disaster, a wildfire, while the remediation and repair work that needs to happen is undertaken to install a temporary dock. I'm wondering if the minister can commit to do this for this community and make sure they are safe in the event of these kinds of wildfires.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
What we'll do is definitely, now that we're aware of this, is work with Indigenous Services on how we can best help.
Each community needs to take a look at how best to evacuate. This has been a concern for us. We have also been trying to determine and predict what resources we would need if there were fires in certain areas where there was no road access, and then we'll add more resources.
Deryck, you want to add to that?
Director General, Government Operations Centre, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Yes. We're going—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Just before you to jump in, I just want to add that I sat down with leaders from this community not too long ago, and they talked about how they've already been evacuated, and they know that if the wind is blowing, air evacuation is not possible, so having water evacuation as a possibility is critical.
Director General, Government Operations Centre, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Yes, I'm happy to speak to that.
Indigenous Services Canada spends an enormous amount of money, effort and time working with communities to support them in every way possible. If there's an issue here, I'm sure they'll be looking at that, especially when it comes to egress and fires.
There is a study under way with them that we are working on for high, remote, fly-in-only communities to make sure they have multiple ways of getting out.
We had a significant evacuation of a first nation—the Bunibonibee—in Manitoba this year, where we evacuated 2,700 first nations with the CAF's help—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
In my last 15 seconds or so, I just want to impress upon the minister the importance of dealing with this issue of talking to the Minister of Transport as well as to the Minister of Environment to ensure that you address the environmental racism that has happened here.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here today.
I want to give you a heads-up that I'm very familiar with Jasper National Park, so I'm going to be asking you some fairly specific questions.
In your opening remarks, you said that the Government of Canada “left no stone unturned” when it came to preparing for the fire that destroyed almost a billion dollars' worth of personal property, left a couple of thousand people homeless and resulted in the death, unfortunately, of a brave firefighter.
I don't believe that the statement you made in your opening remarks is actually true. We're—
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Standing Order 18 on order and decorum does say that remarks “which question a Member’s...integrity”, including a minister, are not allowed.
I think that what that member just said directly questioned the minister's integrity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes. I wouldn't maybe be as direct as you were about that, Mr. Calkins, but you can continue.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
I suppose in the quest for the truth, then, Minister, I take umbrage with the comment that you made.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
The “no stone unturned” comment is frustrating for me, because I am acutely aware of efforts that have been made.
You referred to private sector partners. Are you aware, Minister, that private sector partners were actually en route to Jasper and were actually turned away from coming to do fire suppression in the town of Jasper?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
First of all, to your accusation, that is actually wrong, because when I said “no stone unturned”, at that time I was talking about the emergency preparedness—
Liberal
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, I've been very polite in trying.... Either I answer or I don't answer.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
—I'm interested to know what the minister's answer is, so Minister—
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I'm trying to clarify, if you're accusing me of something.... What I was talking about is that from previous wildfires, we've been working on trying to learn the lessons from there and trying to share those across the country. That's when it comes to “no stone unturned”. It's obviously impossible for us to look at every single community across the country.
When it comes to those resources, yes, I can assure you that it was not the case. I spoke directly with Minister Ellis about this, and that was not the case. When those concerns were raised, they were addressed on the ground during the visit itself.
All of us.... As the minister responsible for emergency preparedness, we were there when they said that this was not an actual issue. Any resources that were needed were made available, and as we were briefed, they were put to use by the incident commander.