Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that June is National Indigenous History Month. I hope we all take any opportunity this month to appreciate and learn about indigenous peoples. For my part, National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to remind parliamentarians that Inuit, first nations and Métis are brilliant. When indigenous peoples enter the path of forgiveness and intergenerational love, they thrive and make Canada a better country.

Parliament must do better to honour the former residential school students. Parliament must do better to honour the children who, rather than playing in playgrounds, were buried by the schools they were forced to be in. If Canada had established a much better relationship and started honouring treaties with indigenous peoples back then, we would have a much better Canada today.

Turning to the emergency debate, first, qujannamiik to first responders in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Climate change is accelerating the frequency and size of disasters such as wildfires. Canadians are experiencing unprecedented forest fire seasons, and this season has only just started. Local and provincial first responders and firefighters are already overwhelmed.

Manitobans, Saskatchewanians and those in many remote and northern first nations communities are being forced to leave their homes due to raging forest fires. Both provinces have declared states of emergency. To date, about 8,000 people from Saskatchewan, and over 17,000 people from Manitoba, have been evacuated. The federal government's emergency response system is inadequate for addressing the urgent needs of evacuees, particularly those from indigenous communities.

The federal government must accelerate its efforts to protect Canadians and lessen the impacts of climate change. Community leaders have expressed concerns about housing space and health care resources for those who have fled the fires. The Government of Canada needs to enact a preventative system that is regionally and community-based, as well as specific and controlled, to stop tragedies before they happen.

This particular emergency debate, which I thank the member for Winnipeg Centre for seeking, is of particular importance to Nunavut. Nunavut has a heavy reliance on medical travel, and Winnipeg is a major hub for medical travel patients. Every day, there are medical travel patients going back and forth between Nunavut and Winnipeg.

The health care system in Nunavut is very basic. If one goes to the health centre for pain and discomfort, the patient is sent home with pain relief. Sometimes months, and sometimes years, pass with the patient going back and forth without proper care. That same patient often ends up being diagnosed with cancer or a debilitating disease, in places such as Winnipeg, if that patient is lucky enough to get a referral to a clinic there.

Communities are served by health centres, where the bulk of care is provided by nurses. Many centres in communities have been forced to remain closed, and only open to emergency cases, because of the lack of available nurses. Some larger communities, such as Iqaluit, have resident doctors. There is only one hospital in Iqaluit.

Most communities access the care provided by a visiting doctor or specialist very infrequently. In 2022, the Qanuinngitsiarutiksait study showed that about 16,000 medical appointments went to Manitoba. The study found that approximately 80% of births by women from the Kivalliq region occur in Manitoba, primarily in Winnipeg. They experience one month of confinement, away from their familiar surroundings. The costs of one such birth is approximately $14,000.

The federal non-insured health benefits program pays for medical travel, as it is a federal obligation. Unfortunately, the federal government is refusing to meet its obligation. The Government of Nunavut is basically functioning as a bank for the federal government, rather than investing in housing or infrastructure. The federal government is refusing to negotiate in good faith with Nunavut, to the tune of $236 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Without timely negotiations and transfers, Nunavummiut will continue to be forced to access health care in places like Winnipeg. While the 17,000 or so people being evacuated to Winnipeg are so important, my constituents must not fall through the cracks as Winnipeg sees a huge influx of people who will, at some point, require health care.

I will turn now to the impacts on indigenous peoples experienced by first nations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Manitoba premier, Wab Kinew, declared a province-wide state of emergency, announcing that more than 17,000 people are expected to be evacuated from wildfire-affected communities. A recent CBC story said that first nations leaders are pointing out that Manitoba cities are largely booked up as people continue to seek temporary housing for evacuees fleeing communities surrounded by the wildfires.

What will the government do to make sure the evacuees are properly housed, fed and able to take care of each other? The federal government's role in wildfire protection with regard to indigenous peoples includes wildfire suppression on federal lands, also known as Indian reserves, or on military bases. We must be given an update as to whether this is occurring. First nations have called on the Government of Canada to uphold its obligations to those who are impacted by wildfires. Indigenous peoples are voicing that their charter rights, particularly section 7, “right to life, liberty and security of the person”, may be engaged if evacuees are exposed to unsafe conditions through inaction.

Indigenous Services Canada holds and must exercise a fiduciary obligation to provide supports when federal action is required to protect indigenous peoples and communities. Indigenous Services Canada must ensure that health care services are increased with the increase in the number of people now in Winnipeg. My constituents must not lose their health care, as they were forced to leave Nunavut to receive such services in the first place. Finally, the federal government must respect UNDRIP and ensure that first nations, Inuit and Métis truly provide their free, prior and informed consent with the Liberal government's “one project, one review” system.

Canada is already on fire. Expediting mining projects would make all of our lives worse. Those from first nations that have been evacuated cannot provide free, prior and informed consent on projects that may be on their territories, and their rights must not be violated. We implore the Liberal government to ensure that free, prior and informed consent is truly the practice when working with indigenous peoples.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of the House.

It was a pleasure of mine during the last government to work alongside the member for Nunavut on the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. In fact, as part of the work in that committee, we did a study looking at emergency response in the north and in indigenous communities. Of course, this is really the subject matter of today. One of the key areas that we looked at was how the government can support culturally appropriate responses. I wonder if the member opposite might be able to speak to that.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his re-election. I did enjoy working with him at INAN. While his is such a good question regarding culturally appropriate services, I think the first thing that needs to happen is, at the very least, for basic services to be provided.

As I mentioned in my speech, Nunavummiut are forced to leave. It makes it more difficult for Nunavummiut, for northerners, to be engaged in Arctic sovereignty and Arctic security if they have no choice but to leave for basic medical care. Nunavummiut need to have access to safe, affordable, comfortable homes. Too many families are living in overcrowded housing conditions. Too many families are living in mouldy conditions. While to try to reach that next level of culturally appropriate care is appreciated, I think we need to get back to the basics and make sure the basics are invested in.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for sharing the experiences of her constituents in this very important debate.

This past fall, I had the opportunity to sit on the environment committee, where we explored the devastation following the fire in Jasper National Park this past summer. One thing I was quite struck by was the numerous testimonies we heard from indigenous groups who talked about the history of areas such as Jasper National Park, which do not look like the Jasper National Park I grew up with.

In fact, the wide swaths of lodgepole pine we see in Jasper National Park are not natural, according to indigenous oral histories. It was much more grasslands before Parks Canada moved in and brought in fire suppression. The witnesses told us that, if we had explored more indigenous ways of managing fires, we could more effectively mitigate a lot of these fires we are seeing in the country.

I wonder if the member had any comments on that and any thoughts she wanted to share with the House.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, when I was at INAN, one of the first things I always wanted to ensure that we did in our reports of our studies was to remind parliamentarians that indigenous peoples were in Canada before Canada was created, since time immemorial. Before colonialism, first nations and Inuit were taking care of these lands using their practices. During our management of it, there were not as many disasters as we see now.

In our decision-making as parliamentarians, the guidance we give to bureaucrats and the national work that is done to implement other activities in international law, we always need to make sure we are using indigenous knowledge, indigenous traditional knowledge, in the same way that science is being used. Indigenous knowledge is science, and we need to make sure decision-making is based on indigenous expertise, expertise we have had since time immemorial.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in my colleague's comments, she talked about resource extraction, fast-tracking and the implications, of course, for indigenous communities on free, prior and informed consent. In addition to that, in the face of the climate crisis and what is going on, I wonder if she can expand on that comment about what her concerns are with the climate crisis, with the fast-tracking of resource extraction.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, while the Prime Minister and the Liberal government are looking to get rich off first nation, Inuit and Métis lands, we are going to continue to be suppressed. This is what my biggest concern is with “one project, one review”. First nations, Métis and Inuit will not be able to give their free, prior and informed consent if it is fast-tracked, especially if they are being evacuated to places like Winnipeg.

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. Minister of Indigenous Services.

I want to begin by thanking the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre for bringing this important and timely debate forward.

Like many Canadians, I have seen the devastating images coming out of Manitoba and Saskatchewan: thick smoke, orange skies, whole communities forced to evacuate and families unsure whether they will have homes to return to. It is frightening, and it is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with everyone who has been displaced and is worried about their homes, health and loved ones. These are difficult times, and the uncertainty is real.

Since the early stages of this crisis, I have been working closely with my provincial counterparts to manage the federal response and to make sure help is reaching the people who need it most. Coordination between federal officials, the province, indigenous communities and humanitarian organizations is constant, and all partners are meeting every day to ensure that we are doing all we can to keep people safe.

I want to express my deep thanks to first responders, firefighters and volunteers, and particularly the Canadian Armed Forces and Coast Guard, who have stepped up and placed themselves in danger to protect others. Their commitment and courage are extraordinary.

I also want to recognize the leadership shown by indigenous governments and local officials, particularly in remote communities, where evacuations are so complex and difficult, and resources are so hard to access. This has been an incredibly challenging time, and the leadership on the ground has been essential.

I want to be clear: Our government acted swiftly when called upon. On May 28, the Prime Minister spoke with Premier Wab Kinew. That same night, we approved two requests for federal assistance from the Government of Manitoba to help evacuate first nations communities under threat. Canadian Armed Forces members were deployed immediately. They began assisting with evacuations the very next morning.

I have heard the concerns raised by the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre, but again I want to be clear that this was not a slow or bureaucratic process. The requests from Manitoba came in late at night. They were approved immediately. This was one of the fastest federal responses in recent memory. By the next morning, Canadian Armed Forces personnel were on the ground, already assisting with evacuations. This was, and still is, a constantly evolving emergency in the case of the first nations, with conditions on the ground changing by the hour.

In places like Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, the situation was especially urgent. I do understand the frustration and the fear that are surely felt by community members and leaders when fire conditions worsen and change, but I want to assure the House that we had contingencies at every step, as we always do.

When the landing strip could not accommodate larger planes, we had to source smaller ones, so the evacuation was necessarily slower. Large planes like the Hercules could not land at that strip. If fixed-wing aircraft were not an option because of smoke or weather, we could move people by helicopter. If helicopters were not viable, we were looking at boats. Our objective was always the same, to reach people quickly and safely, no matter the method. Resources from the Canadian Armed Forces were brought in from across the country, with the result being one of the largest air evacuation operations in Canadian history.

At every stage, we worked in real time with our provincial and indigenous partners to adjust our response to the ever-changing circumstances on the ground. The response was not just fast; it was well coordinated. I have been in regular contact with my provincial counterparts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the provinces that were under immediate threat, and we have kept those lines of communication open as the situation evolves. My conversations with ministers Naylor and McLeod were constructive and focused. They all expressed appreciation for the speed, clarity and flexibility of the federal response.

This is really what effective emergency management looks like: governments at all levels working together to adapt, to act and, above all, to protect people. We are working with the Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments to bolster the support from Canadians who donate through the Red Cross, by matching their donations dollar for dollar. Through this, we will stand with Canadians and assist those impacted by the wildland fires through the Canadian Red Cross wildfires appeals.

As Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, I am overseeing the federal response. I work with the government operations centre, and we coordinate efforts across departments, like National Defence when the armed forces are called out, Indigenous Services, Transport and Health, to make sure that we are providing the right support at the right time. This response is being coordinated day and night, around the clock.

While Saskatchewan has not submitted a formal request for federal assistance yet, we are ready to respond the moment we are asked. In fact, I have already had discussions with Minister McLeod, my counterpart, and I have also had discussions with Mike Ellis in Alberta, before they even asked us, to tell them that we are available for them the moment they need our help.

In the meantime, Indigenous Services Canada has stepped in to support affected first nations. I am working closely with my colleague, the Minister of Indigenous Services, to ensure that all communities have what they need. I want to thank her for her support and her very strong leadership during this difficult time.

When the immediate threat has passed, we will be there to help communities recover and build back. That is where disaster financial assistance arrangements come in. It is a federal program that supports provinces and territories with the cost of responding to major disasters. It helps make sure that rebuilding can happen and that people are not left to do it alone. Canadians rightly expect that when disasters strike, every order of government will do its part, and that is exactly what we are doing.

Let me say this as well. These kinds of moments should not become partisan flashpoints.They should be moments for unity, for standing together to support those on the front lines, to support those whose lives have been upended, and to support them with speed, coordination and compassion. That includes listening to indigenous communities who have told us, clearly and repeatedly, that they face unique and indeed disproportionate challenges during emergencies, especially when it comes to evacuations, overcrowded accommodations, access to culturally safe supports and long-term recovery. We hear those concerns, and we are acting on them.

We know there is more to do. We are committed to doing that in partnership and in good faith. I assure members that in my role as minister for disaster management and also community resilience, I will be focused on ensuring that we learn from these disasters and we prepare better to respond and mitigate the very real threats that we face each year. I invite all members of the House to join me and the government in working on solutions to these important issues.

I want the people of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Cross Lake, La Ronge, Lac La Ronge Indian Band and every other community affected by these fires to know that the government is here for them. We will continue to work around the clock to get them the help that they need. We will be there as evacuations unfold. We will be there as recovery begins. We will be there in the following weeks and months. There is a long road ahead. We will be walking it with them every single step of the way.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the presentation from the minister.

I live in the riding of Prince Albert. We are receiving some 7,000 to 8,000 evacuees, and that could go up to 15,000 throughout the province of Saskatchewan. Lots of people are asking questions about how we are going to take care of these people and what types of resources are going to be available.

The Province of Saskatchewan has mentioned that the Red Cross are going to be there, and it is going to provide them with $15 million in funding to support the evacuees. I have two questions. What would you recommend that the communities that are receiving evacuees do? Will the federal government consider something similar, as we used to do for disasters in other parts of the world, whereby if people donate to the Red Cross, it would match those donations?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Before I go to the minister, I will just remind members to direct their questions through the Speaker.

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the member's question regarding evacuees, he can tell them that the federal government has their backs, that we will be there to support them and that, in fact, the Red Cross and other humanitarian task forces in these situations are on the ground, assisting evacuees when there are difficulties with accessing accommodation.

I might add one other thing. The problem with dealing with these wildfires at this point in time is that the evacuations have been rolling, so it is not like a situation in which we are evacuating one community, like Jasper. It has been one community, then another community and then another community, all rolling. That is especially so in the province of Manitoba, and I suspect it will happen in Saskatchewan too. That means an incredible strain on resources, and it is a continuous strain on resources.

All I can add to that is that we will continue to do all that we can, because again, the safety of Canadians, including people from Saskatchewan, is our top priority.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Canada's largest air force base, with no fewer than six flying squadrons in its fold, 8 Wing CFB Trenton in my riding of Bay of Quinte is always at the forefront of our airborne military transport efforts around the world. However, it is equally important here at home in emergency assistance as it is to our citizens from coast to coast to coast.

My question for the Minister of Emergency Management is this: What plans does our government have to deploy assets from CFB Trenton in this pressing emergency, and is CFB Trenton being advised to stand by to receive evacuees from areas of our north that are hard hit by the wildfires in its large cadet camp facility?

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I can indeed advise that there were two squadrons from Trenton that were deployed, one with respect to the Mathias Colomb evacuation and the other with respect to the Cross Lake one, and I would again at this point in time like to thank all of the forces members for helping evacuate members of those communities under very challenging and, as I have indicated before, unpredictable situations. Of course we always have great gratitude for those individuals who risk their own lives to bring other people to safety.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague said that the government has done all it can. People disagree, including Chief Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, who has claimed that the Government of Canada has neglected its constitutional obligations to collaborate and consult in the evacuation process, often citing bureaucratic issues and jurisdictional disputes that are delaying processes.

First nations chiefs in Manitoba have also voiced that, while the federal government could have immediately deployed the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with coordination, wellness checks, evacuation logistics and reception of evacuees in Winnipeg, it did not do so, costing nations time, resources and peace of mind.

Does the member opposite agree with me that this is the new normal and that the federal government needs to put in a permanent response to deal with the escalating climate crisis?

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I can advise that, indeed, our department will be looking at all kinds of different mechanisms for dealing with responses to emergency situations like wildfires and floods. We are going to be doing that because we know that every time a crisis happens, we learn from that crisis. We learn and we take lessons; we take those lessons to our local, provincial and indigenous counterparts, and we work to make a system that is better with respect to all aspects of emergency preparedness and evacuations.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Wachiya, Mr. Speaker.

[Member spoke in Cree]

[English]

It is my pleasure to congratulate you on winning this seat and representing us as the Speaker in the House.

It is a privilege to speak for the first time in the House as the member for Abitibi—Baie‑James—Nunavik—Eeyou. I would like to sincerely thank the residents of my riding for allowing me to represent them in the House.

It is also an honour to rise as the first Minister of Indigenous Services who is herself indigenous, a bold and historic move by our Prime Minister in the formation of his cabinet. I want to also acknowledge my colleagues from the indigenous caucus for coming to support this important debate tonight.

I rise in this House with a deep sense of urgency and responsibility. Across Canada, wildfires are presently burning. They are threatening lives, homes and entire communities. These fires are not isolated events; they are part of a growing pattern, yes, driven by climate change. They are affecting more and more people more frequently and more severely than ever before.

I want to acknowledge the profound impacts the wildfires have had on individuals, families and communities. To those who have lost their homes, who have been forced to evacuate, and who are living with uncertainty and fear, I extend my deepest sympathies.

[Member spoke in Cree]

[English]

I am thinking of everyone.

I want to also share that my ministry has been in close communication with many chiefs and first nation leaders. We have been supporting these communities through these challenging times, working around the clock to keep people safe and securing them in an ever-changing situation. Sometimes I receive calls from leadership who have been on the front lines fighting fires themselves. I want to acknowledge their leadership and courage.

To support their evacuations, Indigenous Services Canada has first ensured that we provide advance payments to first nations communities. These funds help to ensure that communities have the resources they need when they need them in critical moments. This approach is proactive. It is necessary. When communities are given the right tools and resources to act swiftly, lives are protected and damage is minimized.

The ministry is working alongside first nations partners, as well as provincial and territorial counterparts, to monitor and to ensure that we respond rapidly to ever-evolving fire situations. I am in near-constant communication with my federal colleagues, such as the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience. We have spoken with our provincial counterparts over the last few days. I want to commend the minister for her support, open communication and response to urgency when I called upon her at all hours of the night.

I also want to acknowledge the many leaders who have spoken with me. Chief Waylon Scott is one of the chiefs I have had the opportunity to speak with recently, and he offered a quote to be shared as part of the debate this evening:

[Our] nation has been evacuated for some time now due to wildfires in Northern Ontario. The new Minister of Indigenous Services directed her team reach out to me directly, and they have been available and supportive throughout this emergency. I, Chief Scott, Ontario Regional Chief Benedict, and other Ontario Chiefs affected by the wildfires also met with the Minister virtually.

Their situation, their needs and the best way to support their response were reflected in how our team, on numerous occasions, day and night, responded to the community and community members. During this crisis, the Government of Canada has been a strong partner for first nations across Ontario, and we are proactive in reaching out to all provinces. This partnership reflects our shared responsibility. No single government or organization can face this challenge alone. It is through unity and mutual respect that we find the most effective solutions.

The emergency management assistance program, under Indigenous Services Canada, reimburses eligible costs related to wildfire response and recovery. This includes evacuation support and culturally sensitive services, offered with wraparounds on site, taking into consideration mental health, traditional food, language interpretation and child care. I want to share that we have been delivering these in a collaborative way to ensure that we are reflecting and respecting the needs of first nations.

To ensure timely support, we have also provided advance payments to on-reserve and eligible first nation communities. This funding helps communities respond to the immediate need without waiting for reimbursement in a time of crisis. These upfront supports are a reflection of our commitment to uphold the dignity and well-being of every community member during a time of crisis.

I spoke earlier today to Chief Bobby Cameron, and I want to echo his statement: Federal and provincial governments need to work together to respond to first nation emergencies jointly and collaboratively. We have shown that we are open to that dialogue and that partnership.

We are also working to ensure that we are looking at long-term wildfire preparedness. Our FireSmart program supports preparedness through firefighter training, fuel management and vegetation clearing projects. The non-structural mitigation and preparedness program also helps to develop and test emergency management plans and to build capacity to respond to future emergencies.

Preparedness is key. These supports are about building strength before disaster strikes so that communities can mitigate the impact to the greatest extent possible. It is to ensure not only that they have the ability to respond but also that they have the capacity to recover and thrive. We have started to support indigenous nations in other provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan, calling them and ensuring that our dialogue is in place to respond to their emerging needs.

Indigenous Services Canada has taken steps to strengthen its approach. This includes implementing a new risk-based funding model, improving emergency management plans and enhancing program indicators. A key part of this work is multilateral emergency management service agreements, which are agreements that recognize first nations as full and equal partners alongside federal, provincial and territorial governments. These agreements are not just administrative tools; they ensure that we are showcasing shared responsibility and culturally appropriate emergency services.

The future of first nations emergency management is top of mind for me as I take on this new role. It is an issue that has come up in many conversations that I have had with first nations leaders over the past few days. I would like to share another quote. Grand Chief Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said, “I want to acknowledge the minister for listening to our concerns and establishing direct lines of communication. We are making progress, and we understand there are gaps that need to be addressed. I look forward to working with the minister to address these gaps.”

We are also looking ahead to the 2025 wildfire season to ensure that we are not waiting; we are preparing. This ministry dedicates annual funding to capacity, mitigation and preparedness in first nations communities. This includes support for emergency management coordinator positions, and many have showcased their skill and capacity over the past few days. We are laying the groundwork for a future where communities are not just reacting to emergencies but equipped to prevent them. The post-wildfire season will be met with a debrief with first nations communities to focus on preparedness and the response and reaction. There is always room to improve. We want to ensure that it comes directly from first nations.

This is a new government, with new opportunities, and we will respond in a new way, focused on first nations, indigenous peoples, Inuit and Métis. I want to ensure that health and safety of all first nations community members is the priority of this ministry. We are doing work to support in all capacities. Emergencies occur, and we want to support communities and ensure that they can restore their positions, bring their members home in a culturally safe way, avoid vulnerability and exploitation, and strengthen the resilience they have as first nations people.

In closing, wildfires are devastating. They test the strength of first nations communities and the bonds that hold us together.

I want to acknowledge all entities that have supported this process, including the Canadian Armed Forces, all volunteers and all other organizing resources that have supported first nations in their evacuation and in the time that they are spending away from their homes. I also want to acknowledge those that will work with us to return the evacuees safely to their communities. Meegwetch. Nakurmiik.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in the riding of Prince Albert, we have extended our hospitality to the member for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River if he needs an office to work out of in Prince Albert as some of his constituents are moving south, so he has a place to work out of.

I just want to make sure that the Government of Canada has people in place to help and receive these people as they go through issues of, maybe, unemployment insurance, social services and whatever other items that may come across, that they would normally get in their riding and are now going to receive in areas where they are displaced to.

What have you put in place to actually accomplish that, and what other things do you think should be put in place at a local level to make sure these individuals are properly taken care of?

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I allow the minister to respond, I will note that the question must come through the Chair. I cannot respond, but the minister can provide an answer.

The Minister of Indigenous Services.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for this important question.

We are not only supporting our members as they are outside of the community in evacuation centres. We are offering wraparound services, including mental health and health care, and working with first nations bands and communities to support them in their administrative processes as they are not able to offer that service in the community, including ensuring that payroll is carried out and responding to the needs of HR processes outside of the community. These are all critical aspects of supporting them so that they can continue working for their members, be it in a position of coordinating evacuation or ensuring that payments are made to members in this time of crisis.

I also want to acknowledge that many first nations communities have stepped up, with their capacity and their expertise, to support their fellow first nations members and relations, bringing them into a space to feel welcomed and communicated with, and to ensure that it is done in a culturally safe way. We are looking to build that relationship beyond and outside the scope, inviting our partners and government to work with us and collaborate with us. I look forward, asking all members of this chamber for support in this time of crisis.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for her very important speech. In the Outaouais, we have had similar situations where one of the indigenous communities in my riding had to be evacuated. I would like to thank everyone at Indigenous Services Canada for their support.

Can the minister elaborate on what steps the department is taking to support indigenous communities affected by the wildfires in Manitoba? I would particularly like to hear more about the cultural support and temporary housing provided to indigenous communities.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think we are in a time of crisis. We can see that several communities have told people that they are welcome in their community. I am very proud that several first nations invited people to come and opened the doors of their communities to welcome them.

I come from a nation where I have had the same experience. A number of municipalities around my nation also opened their doors to welcome people. It is truly a collaborative process to ensure that we are providing fair, quality service for people in evacuation centres.

The Department of Indigenous Services is working with several partners, including the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and our provincial partners. One of our priorities is to improve the way we communicate. During this process, my team oversaw several discussions directly with the communities, chiefs and the people responsible for emergency processes to ensure that the way communities are evacuated in times of crisis has been clearly understood and follows a process that fosters greater respect for cultural needs and that allows evacuees to be served in their language and by their own people.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank members for being here tonight for this important debate about the situation going on in Canada, in my riding and in the riding north of mine in Saskatchewan. I will be sharing my time with the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman. I know he has some things to talk about with regard to the impact it is having on the people of Manitoba.

When I landed in Saskatoon on Friday at the airport, it was like I landed in another world. One would swear one was in eastern Canada in a fog, but it was not fog; it was smoke. Those flying the airplane probably could not see across the runway. They were definitely on full instrumentation when they landed, no question about that. Getting off the plane as they opened the door, I could smell the smoke coming into the cabin of the plane. I have experienced forest fires in previous years, but this in the city of Saskatoon was something new, I think, to everybody there.

I want to give members a sense of just how grave the situation is in Saskatchewan. Last week, I reached out to mayors and reeves to talk about what was happening in their communities. I want to talk a little about that today and give a situation update on Saskatchewan so the House is aware of what is going on there and some of the actions that are taking place. Then I want to highlight some of the amazing people who are working behind the scenes to help fight the fires and take care of evacuees as they are being displaced. They are trying to deal with their stressful situations as they are being moved because of the fires.

Right now, the largest fire is just outside of Candle Lake. Candle Lake is a resort village with lots of people who live there year-round. It has a volunteer evacuation going on at this point in time. A 100-metre berm has been put in along the highway to give them a bigger area to stop the flames from coming toward the community. Basically, they are doing everything they can to protect the community from fires, and they have been getting lots of support from the provincial government and the SPSA. There are also extensive fires north and northeast of Prince Albert.

Last night, we saw the evacuation of La Ronge. That was a scary event for a lot of people. They were basically told to pack up supplies for at least three days, if not more. They made the trek from La Ronge to Prince Albert, and then from Prince Albert, I understand, they are being displaced to different cities around Saskatchewan. Sucker River, Wadin Bay, English Bay and Nemeiben subdivisions were all issued evacuation orders on Monday.

As of Tuesday, there are 20 active wildfires in the province, with seven considered contained. Air quality warnings are still in effect for much of the entire north. At least 20 communities have been evacuated so far in Saskatchewan and 8,000 people have been evacuated, with the premier saying today that he estimates it could be as high as 15,000 in the next three or four days.

The shoe fire, currently the largest in the province, has prompted the closure of Highway 165 and evacuation alerts for several communities, including East Trout Lake, Whelan Bay, Narrow Hills and Little Bear Lake. This is a list of evacuation areas: Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, Narrow Hills Provincial Park, Whiteswan, Whelan Bay, Brabant Lake, Hall Lake, Nemeiben Lake, Sucker Lake, Wadin Bay, English Bay, Foran Mine and McIlveena Bay, Jan Lake, Pelican Narrows, Creighton, Denare Beach, Weyakwin, the resort subdivision of Ramsey Bay, Sturgeon Landing, the northern hamlet of Timber Bay, Molanosa and the resort village of Candle Lake, which is a voluntary evacuation area.

The map is of concern. These fires are in an area where there is just dry tinder. When I was home on the weekend, I was walking on my grass and it actually crunched under my feet because it is so dry. We have not had any rainfall pretty well all spring. As we look at what is coming up for the weather and the wind changes that have been happening, it just creates more concern. Really, we are in the hands of God in a lot of ways. We are praying for rain.

One of the issues we need to deal with, of course, is air quality. For seniors, young people, young women, pregnant women, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous activities and people with chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, lung and heart conditions, including asthma, and mental illness, air quality is important. Of course, the smoke is creating a scenario where people cannot go outside because the air quality is so bad. Air quality warnings have gone out right across the north, and as I said, the smoke has gone as far as Saskatoon and Regina. We hear stories of it going into northern states and other parts of Canada.

If there is a good story about this, it is people coming together. I have to say that I am so proud of the constituents I have and am lucky to represent. Whether it is putting together a group of people to make sandwiches for the volunteer firefighters, RM of Buckland's firefighting crew lending their water truck to SPSA or TacoTime in Prince Albert making tacos for firefighters and evacuees, there are so many examples of people coming together to help each other out.

Actually, in some ways, it is truly community building, similar to what we used to see in the early 1900s when the province was being settled. People are working hand in hand together in saving their communities and protecting each other's farms. Along the Torch River, there is an area that is really dry, and there are lots of houses along the northern fringe. People are working together to protect those houses and farms, something that has been ongoing for the last week, week and a half. They are working late into the night and starting early in the morning, and nobody is grumbling or complaining. They are doing what they have to do to save each other's houses and their homes. That is the good part.

Now, with this, there are always some bad parts too, like the fact that the fires happened. It sounds like a good portion of them were man-made. Today, an individual was arrested who was actually lighting fires along one of the highways. Who could be so stupid? That is the type of thing that is really frustrating, because there are so many people negatively impacted by fires, and then there is somebody doing something as stupid as that.

This has had a major impact on communities. Even in the north, as we look forward, we have lost telephone lines and power grids. The highways are closed. These things are not built or rebuilt overnight, so it is going to require a lot of work in this region to get it back to normal once the fires are put out and people return home.

One thing Premier Moe has talked about, and I will talk about quickly, is the need for surge capacity and a federal water bomber fleet. There needs to be something in place so that when we have fires throughout Canada, we have the ability to react quickly and move resources where they are required. That is something the federal government should talk with the provinces about: Is this something we should be imagining in light of what has happened over the last few years? Whether it is in British Columbia, as it was last year; Quebec, where it could be next year; or Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as it is this year, it seems like there is a need for surge capacity to take the expertise and move it to the fire location to deal with the fires.

We cannot just take somebody off the street and say, “Go fight forest fires.” The fire we have in Saskatchewan is so violent, for lack of a better word, that we cannot take somebody who does not know what they are doing and put them in the bush to fight that fire. We need trained professionals. A lot of those trained professionals, such as first nations people, have been doing it year after year, so we have to rely on them. We cannot just take somebody and say, “Hey, go fight fires tomorrow.” That does not work. We have to rely on the people who know the territory, how to properly fight fires and how to evacuate when they need to evacuate or retreat when they need to retreat. We have that expertise in Saskatchewan; we just do not have enough of it.

Of course, we have to keep in mind too that when running water bombers and helicopters, pilots time out. Even though the hardware is sitting at an airport, the fire could still be going on but we do not have the people and personnel to operate that hardware in a 24-hour-a-day cycle. It is the same with CATs and things like them. I know that in our communities, a lot of farmers have that type of capacity and are using it. They are doing berms and firebreaks. They are being proactive, trying to make sure they are protecting each other.

It is really a sad event that has happened. As I said, in some ways it has brought people together, but in other ways, the power of Mother Nature is really sobering. When I talked to the mayor of Prince Albert, one of the things we discussed was, as we receive evacuees and understand the stresses they are facing, what we can do to help. How can we help the kids who are not going to school? Can we do some sports events? The city is talking about opening up its leisure centre and maybe the Prince Albert Raiders will do ball hockey. We are looking at different ideas to keep people active and busy, and we are open to other ideas. If other communities have done things in the past that have been effective at helping evacuees deal with the stress of not being at home, we look forward to having that information and any of those ideas so that we can take care of these people as they go through this stress.

I am proud of the people in my riding of Prince Albert. I am proud of what they are doing and how they are stepping up. I am proud to represent them, and I want to thank them for putting me here. It is an honour to represent them. I just wish my first speech in the House had been about something different, rather than talking about forest fires, but that is what we have here today.

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone on the ground who has been working to fight this terrible tragedy and make right what has been made wrong by nature. I appreciate the speed with which everybody has worked, including the ministers. I know how hard these situations are to manage, and I give my sincere thanks to all involved for keeping people safe.

The one thing I want to ask the member about is the long-term effect of this. Could he give his thoughts on that? I worked for the Government of Alberta, and we found that one of the challenges with an event like this is that it is often much longer lasting than people imagine. There is an event the world is watching, and the country is there in very big ways for people. Then they go home and their house is rebuilt if it has been lost, and life is supposed to go on. However, a year later is when some of the real mental health challenges can occur, and the country is not there.

I am wondering if you could react to that or give comments on what you think should happen long term for mental health supports for your community.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I allow the member for Prince Albert to respond, I will ask members, as it is going to happen a lot tonight, to speak through the Chair. I have no opinions.

The member for Prince Albert.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I made the same mistake twice tonight, and I have been here for 17 years. I apologize. It is going to happen, as you said.

The member raised some really good points that tend to happen. We take care of individuals when they are away from home, making sure we do everything we can to make their life as comfortable as possible, but then they go home. In the situation in Saskatchewan, they could be going home to somewhere with no power and no telephone because those systems have been wiped out by the fire. We do not know what the highways are going to look like once the fires have gone through the highway system. In a lot of the places, the communities people are going back to have one way in and out, which is basically the highway, so there are a lot of things on the logistical side that need to be dealt with for sure.

When we talk about mental health and items like that, some of the first nations in the northern part of the province have some really good individuals working in mental health. We just have to make sure we empower them so they are there to take care of individuals and help them progress through this tragedy.