Mr. Speaker, the Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap has been burning for 77 days, consuming over 45,000 hectares of forest and destroying hundreds of homes and structures, including homes of firefighters who fought the fire and the volunteer fire hall in Scotch Creek. It continues to burn today.
This year, Canada has lost six wildfire firefighters in B.C. and two more in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. We are extremely grateful there were no serious injuries or loss of life to the flames in the Shuswap. Local governments are calling for an independent review of this year’s wildfire responses, and I support that call. Future wildfire responses must be informed by lessons learned. Communities across B.C. also need action on the findings of previous wildfire reviews.
Residents of the North Shuswap are determined to rebuild and determined to recover. I will continue to work with them and all levels of government as we navigate the road to recovery together, and I call on the Government of Canada to do the same.