Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while I am a member from downtown Toronto, I care just as much about what is happening in our country as others do. Not only do I proudly represent Davenport, but I represent all Canadians. I do everything in my power to make the best decisions I can for this country, so I absolutely care about the wildfires that are under way. I am very proud to be a part of the important debate and discussion this evening.

I disagree completely with the member opposite. As I mentioned earlier, I am very proud of the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and very proud of the Minister of Indigenous Services, both of whom spoke earlier. They talked about how they have been on top of dealing with all the wildfire responses and requests.

We have addressed these issues urgently. We have worked in coordination with all levels of government, with indigenous people and with the non-profit organizations that are so important.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Davenport, who is one of my favourite colleagues. It is great to be in the House tonight with such a thoughtful and empathetic member of Parliament, as she always shows herself to be. She gave a very thoughtful speech that I know she worked very hard on.

It is unfortunate that someone is not present, the leader of the official opposition. He was the member for Carleton, but unfortunately he is not currently in the House to participate in this debate. I wonder whether it is because he and his party voted over 400 times against the climate policies of this government. They sought to address the core underlying causes contributing to wildfires and other extreme weather events, which we know are increasing in frequency.

I know the member in her speech focused on the need for coordination and co-operation among a whole bunch of different stakeholders, including first responders. I wonder if she could tell us how Canadians can contribute to this response.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that today, our government, alongside the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, announced that we will match all individual donations to the Canadian Red Cross in support of those impacted by wildfires in each province. That means every dollar Canadians give will go further, to provide emergency shelter, food and essential supplies.

We are deeply grateful to the Red Cross and all the local volunteers who are stepping up to this difficult moment. I know that Canadians, as they always do, will rise to the occasion and support these efforts.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have faced an increase in extreme climate events in Vancouver, British Columbia, where we experienced a heat dome and where over 500 people died. We had Lytton, where a whole city burned down, and Jasper. We now have, of course, extreme weather occurrences in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and even Quebec. This is a reality that Canadians face.

In the face of that, my question for the member is this: Does the member think it makes sense that the government continues to want to advance oil and gas industries with its latest development of a one-office, fast-track approach?

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience said earlier this evening that every single time we tackle wildfires in this country, we continue to learn from each and every single event.

We are going to continue to work closely with all of our partners, our provincial partners, indigenous communities and non-profit partners, to make sure that we continue to keep—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I have to interrupt the member.

Resuming debate, the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, tansi, aniin, bonjour, ullukkut. I rise today from a place of urgency and responsibility, and I begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I honour their stewardship and offer my respect to their ancestors and knowledge-keepers, past and present.

I speak today not only as a minister in the House, but as the member of Parliament for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, a riding that has been deeply affected by the wildfires raging across our north. Thousands have already been evacuated, and more are on alert.

I invite those questioning our government's response to actually speak to the people on the ground. Ask the elders who have been airlifted to safety. Ask the local leadership who have received daily updates through direct lines of communication and who have sent “thank you” messages for the support they are receiving from our government. Our response was rooted in safety first and respect for life. Our response was rooted in the belief that indigenous and northern communities deserve the same level of urgency and care as anyone else in this country. That is the bar we have set, and that is the bar we will continue to meet.

Since May 28, I have been in constant communication with provincial counterparts, including Premier Wab Kinew and Minister Naylor, as well as local leadership, such as Mayor George Fontaine of Flin Flon and councillors from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. I have also worked closely with my federal colleagues, including the Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, and the Minister of Emergency Management, Eleanor Olszewski. Every single day, I have made calls, checking in directly with communities and their leadership. I have provided regular updates, reassurance and coordination support. Together, we focused on ensuring that evacuation logistics are clear, timely and culturally responsive.

Above all, our priority has been to make sure that every person is safe, accounted for and not left behind. Flin Flon, Bakers Narrows, Bissett, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Sherridon, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Mathias Colomb and now York Landing, we are thinking about all of these communities, their leadership and the people there.

Pukatawagan was a point of tension because we knew they had no road in or out and their rail line had burned. Their evacuation route was long, complex and stressful, but I am relieved and proud to report that we got everybody out. We worked together with the community, the province and the federal government to ensure safety and dignity throughout the entire process.

This crisis is not just a challenge. It is also a mirror. It reflects the reality that climate change is not a future threat. It is happening right now. It is a present emergency. The north is warming at three times the global average. The land is burning, and the ice is melting. Our ways of life, our food, our systems, our cultural practices and our health are all being tested. Make no mistake, the burden is not shared equally. Indigenous and northern communities, which have done the least to cause this crisis, are bearing the brunt of its consequences.

As an indigenous person with relationships throughout the north, with the communities that I serve, these are not statistics to me. These are the families that I adore, my friends and my story. I have heard the fear in people's voices, and I see many of the images being sent from communities that are being affected. I have felt the pressure of this moment and the strength of northerners. Manitobans, Canadians and this new government have been working together.

Throughout this crisis, I have been heartened by the leadership I have witnessed: mayors, chiefs and councillors working together around the clock. These are my heroes, and these are the voices that are guiding our work. I want to express my gratitude to the firefighters, emergency responders, nurses, doctors, volunteers, and the countless community members who are supporting one another with strength and solidarity. My colleagues, including Minister Olszewski and Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, have been working closely to mobilize federal resources, ensuring that supports are trauma-informed, culturally relevant and community-directed.

We know we must not only respond; we must rebuild with intention. We know the people of Flin Flon, Mathias Colomb and Pimicikamak deserve more, and we are here for them. We deserve lasting infrastructure, fire-resistant housing, community-driven climate strategies, and economic opportunities that flow back to the communities, not away from them.

The truth is that these fires are revealing our fault lines, but also our shared responsibility and our strength. They are teaching us that climate justice is indigenous and northern justice and that reconciliation must include environmental responsibility. This is about more than a response; it is about restoring balance between people, policy and the land itself.

I reject the idea that anyone in the House is not doing enough. When people are losing homes, when the land is on fire and when families are displaced is not a moment for partisanship. It is a moment for personal responsibility and collective action, so let us walk this path together with urgency, with humility and with deep respect for those who came before us and those who are watching us right now.

To the people of Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, I want to say that I see them, I hear them and I will continue to stand with them every step of the way.

Meegwetch.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I proceed to questions and comments, I will remind members that, in spite of the late hour, we cannot refer to ministers by their first or last names. For example, it would be the “Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience”.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the minister's words and share her concerns. Like the rest of our hon. colleagues, my heart goes out to her riding and the specific people in northern Manitoba whom she represents. Lately we have been hearing concerns about the current emergency situation, and I share her concerns about the long-term value of engaging indigenous nations for long-term solutions.

Given this emergency debate on the crisis, we are hearing some concerns on housing, particularly in terms of hotels in Manitoba and specific indigenous people from the north not having a place to stay. Can the minister address some of the services and supports for housing in Winnipeg that indigenous Canadians from Manitoba are looking for?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to know that our indigenous caucus has been working around the clock with the rest of our colleagues here at the federal level, and we are doing that in partnership with the provincial government and local leadership.

We know supports have already been provided to people on the ground, and those supports will continue. I will continue to work with Minister Gull-Masty on this to ensure that people on the ground receive the supports they are asking for.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, the minister is not allowed to label people by their names in here. She needs to use the minister's title or their riding name.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

On the point of order, that is correct. We cannot refer to ministers by their first or last names, only by their titles. The minister made a reference to another minister in the cabinet.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs for a very insightful set of remarks that I think outlined exactly how climate justice is so important in this country and how indigenous and northern communities are disproportionately impacted. I know she represents many of those communities and many that are impacted by these wildfires, and I am sure it is not the first time the communities she is representing have been impacted by climate change and wildfires.

I really have heard from many members on this side of the House about how the government is working to coordinate efforts across many different stakeholders. I wondered if the minister could share some stories about that coordination and how important it is to her community.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk a bit about the Churchill—Keewatinook Aski riding and the work we have to do to support people throughout it. This riding is three-quarters of Manitoba. It has 68 communities, 40 of which are first nations communities. There are also 20 remote isolated communities, meaning we can only get into these communities by winter road or by fly-in.

The efforts being made have to take these considerations into account. When we think about the coordination that is happening across the province, across the country or even just for my riding, we have to work with all levels of government to do that. That is what we did.

As soon as a state of emergency was called, one thing I did was reach out to Premier Kinew from Manitoba just to make sure our efforts were in sync and that we were listening to what was happening on the ground. I also reached out to a number of community people to make sure they were receiving supports in their communities, and I will continue to do that work until everybody is safe.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the minister on her appointment and her election.

I am going to ask about Chief Monias from the Pimicikamak first nation, who, when the state of emergency was declared there, made remarks regarding the importance of treaty relationships, as well as making sure that, because of that treaty relationship, they have ready access to all ministers.

The chief has since stated they have only had one meeting with the minister and that their needs are not being heard and their voices are not being heard. They are saying they are not asking for charity, but are asking for their treaty relationship to be respected. I wonder if she can share with us how she is reconciling what we are hearing from chiefs in first nations with what she shared with us in her statement today.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ with what was just stated. I have actually spoken to Chief Larson from Pimicikamak myself, checking in to ensure his community members are receiving the support they rightfully deserve. We will continue to keep providing that same support to all community members and their leadership.

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I wish that I were rising, for the second time in this chamber since my election, with respect to a better topic than the one at hand, but I appreciate that we are having this emergency debate about the ongoing wildfire situation affecting my home province as well as our neighbouring province of Saskatchewan and elsewhere. I know other parts of the country are affected as well. Although the debate is labelled as being about Manitoba and Saskatchewan specifically, we know our fellow Canadians in other provinces are impacted as well, and I think it is important to mention that.

Just as a bit of an update, my portion of the province is not currently under threat of fire, but we are receiving refugees and evacuees from regions of the province that are, and we are certainly doing our part to welcome those folks into our constituency, into our homes in many cases, to make sure that they have a safe place to go. It is important to note that many of the fires are still significantly out of control. They are extreme conditions, and we remain in a province-wide state of emergency. There are also small pockets of high fire danger in other areas of the province. While I am told that after I left Winnipeg yesterday morning they did get a bit of rain, it is certainly not enough and not in the right regions to stem the fires that are currently burning, both under and out of control, nor to stem the focus previously.

I should have noted at the beginning of my speech that I plan to split my time with the member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River.

As Manitoba continues to battle the flames, our firefighters, both professional and volunteer, are deployed from across regions of the province, including from the city of Brandon and Westman. We are responding. Many people have volunteered to go up north to address the challenging circumstances in the constituency of the minister who just spoke, as well as elsewhere. We thank them for their significant commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of our northern Manitoba friends.

We also know that we Manitobans are not doing it alone. Deployed in Manitoba alone to address the challenging circumstances that we simply do not have the capacity as one province to manage, there have been 38 personnel from Alberta, 87 personnel from British Columbia, 19 personnel from Parks Canada, 23 personnel from New Brunswick, two personnel from Prince Edward Island, 500 sprinklers from our friends in British Columbia and two skimmers and one bird dog plane from our friends in Minnesota. On behalf of Brandon—Souris constituents and all Manitobans, I say a hearty and heartfelt “thank you” to our friends from other provinces and our friends in Minnesota for their support at this incredibly challenging time.

Manitobans continue to urge people to follow carefully all fire and travel restrictions. This is at level 3, as of the latest fire bulletin published by the Province of Manitoba's emergency measures team, and it is important for Manitobans to understand that those measures are in effect.

We have heard a lot of talk already tonight and through the evening about the impact of climate change. We are not here to debate that necessarily, but it is important to note that the Province of Manitoba is reporting that over half, approaching three-quarters, of the fires so far are known to have been caused by human activity. It remains a challenge for our fire and emergency measures personnel that human activity is causing these fires, not intentionally I am sure, but accidentally in the vast majority of cases. It is still a significant challenge, so Manitobans are urged at this time to be very cautious with their actions and their activities. We certainly do not need more strain on our emergency services personnel at this time. We thank Manitobans for their commitment.

In addition, a number of chiefs have spoken publicly to the media about their frustration with folks who right now are not following the request to evacuate communities. I just cannot stress enough, in this important, hallowed chamber, how impactful and how necessary it is for folks in those communities that are under an evacuation order to please follow the commentary from the provincial government and the professionals. Folks should please respect those notices as they receive them. This is for their health and safety. These are not safe places to be right now. It is very important that they follow the requests of provincial officials and remove themselves from those areas if they are under an evacuation order.

From the bottom of my heart, with all common sense in mind, I know this must be difficult. I myself was evacuated from my family home during the 2011 flood season in southwestern Manitoba. It was a significant water event, a once-in-300-years flood in our community. The military was called in by former NDP premier Greg Selinger and former prime Minister Stephen Harper, working together across party lines to save our community. They certainly did. We were evacuated from our home for over a month. I know they are not easy decisions to make, to leave everything that someone owns and everything that they know behind. They may not find it there when they return, but it is so important that people do so to protect themselves and protect their families. They should please respect those evacuation orders when they come.

We know that there is a lot of ground to cover. There are thousands of hectares currently burning. Again, I will reiterate my thanks to the professionals who are working diligently to get the out-of-control fires under control and maintain the ones that are out of control. It is so important that we respect and support them in everything they do. I know Brandon—Souris residents are certainly doing that.

Over the weekend, a number of C-130 Royal Canadian Air Force planes landed at the Brandon Municipal Airport. They came from the RCAF headquarters in Winnipeg. We know they are leading the emergency response now that the request for support has been received. To those fine folks who put uniforms on and put their lives on the line to protect this country, both at home and abroad, I say that I sincerely appreciate their support and their work at this incredibly challenging time.

Brandon received those planes. It is currently housing several hundred, if not over a thousand, evacuees within hotels and across the city. We know that things are getting challenging. My team reached out to the City of Brandon's team earlier today in advance of my giving this debate and wanted to make sure the main message from the City of Brandon is to those folks who have been evacuated, who are landing in the city of Brandon: It is so important that they register with the Red Cross so that we know where they are, they can be tracked and services can be delivered to them.

That is the message, folks. If someone is landing in Brandon and accommodations are being provided, they should please remember to register with the Red Cross. We know people have a lot on the go right now, but it is so important to make sure that they get the services they need and deserve at this time when they are evacuated from their homes.

I know other regions of Brandon—Souris are stepping up as well. In fact, even my hometown of Souris just developed a new campground and has made campsites available, obviously at no cost to evacuees. Evacuees will be housed in hotels first, but depending on how long this situation drags on for, and we hope it is not long, Souris has made accommodations available in alternative formats if folks want to get out of the hotel after a short stay there. These are important initiatives.

Brandon—Souris and Westman are welcoming the evacuees with open arms while we send our first responders north to address the situation there. I am very proud to represent these hard-working and very caring Westman and Brandon—Souris residents. I thank them for their commitment to dealing with this situation.

I look forward to hearing more from the government members about the steps they are taking to address this initiative and support the evacuees and the province of Manitoba in getting these fires under control.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I know that members opposite have talked a lot about controlled burns and ways to manage forests and ensure that forest fires do not become wild or uncontrolled.

I wonder if the member opposite knows that forest management plans are a jurisdiction of the province. I wonder whether he will acknowledge in this House that private forestry companies must operate under licence and timber supply agreements that provincial governments have clear jurisdiction over. I know that we have said many times in this House how important it is to coordinate efforts among all tiers of government and many other partners. We have heard ministers repeat this, and many of us have repeated it.

Could the member speak about the provincial responsibilities when it comes to these matters?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what speech the member for Whitby was listening to. It was not mine, because I did not mention forestry management plans a single time in my speech, despite his claiming that I did.

However, here is what I would say about that. None of northern Manitoba, which is currently burning, is in a national park, which is what my colleagues across the Conservative bench have made comments on previously. Certainly, it is a provincial responsibility to manage forests that are outside national parks. It is important for the province to have the tools to do so. I understand there are acts that the previous Liberal federal government enacted, such as the Species at Risk Act, which prevent certain controlled burns from being undertaken. That is limiting the ability to manage forestry.

It is important to note also that our forestry partners in Manitoba are very responsible, and they do great work on behalf of the forestry industry and all Manitobans.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would note that when it comes to fire and emergency services, we have seen a significant deterioration across Canada in recent years. The Liberal Party pledged in 2021 to allocate half a billion dollars to train and recruit 1,000 new firefighters and acquire new equipment, including helicopters and water bombers. Thus far, that money has not gone out the door. The government has failed to meet the commitment that it made, nearly three and a half years later.

Would the hon. member agree that when it comes to this matter, the government has a lot of work to do?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank my colleague for that excellent question. There is no doubt I agree that when a federal government makes commitments to people, particularly people in vulnerable areas of the country, it should keep those commitments. The Liberal Party failed to do that when it made that commitment in 2021.

In addition to that, the member for Winnipeg North earlier claimed that the Liberal government flowed money to the Manitoba government, which subsequently allowed Wab Kinew, as premier, in his first budget, to cut the emergency measures budget in the province last year by $50 million.

The federal government, when it is making funding decisions, needs to ensure that actual infrastructure and equipment are being purchased with federal dollars to protect vulnerable communities in northern Manitoba and everywhere else across the country.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, over the last decade, we have never seen raging wildfires like we are seeing right now. Unlike the Liberals, who want to blame provinces and territories for maybe not having the equipment to tackle these incredible fires that are taking place, I think about my home province, which is loaning resources and supporting three neighbouring provinces with helicopters, water bombers and equipment. At the same time, B.C. has operators like Coulson Group, on Vancouver Island, that are supporting countries around the world, yet Canada still does not have water bombers or night firefighting equipment to take on surges happening throughout Canada.

Does my colleague agree that it is time for the federal government to step up, fill the void and show some leadership?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank the government of B.C. and the people of B.C. for punching above their weight in supporting other provinces that are under serious threat right now. There is no doubt in my mind that when a federal government makes a commitment to invest in a particular outcome for a particular group of communities or group of people, it should absolutely fulfill that commitment. The Liberal government should have done it. The government failed and should be held to account for that.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to participate in this very important emergency debate, but before I address the urgent matter at hand, as this is the first time I have had the opportunity to speak in this new Parliament, I want to thank the residents of St. Albert—Sturgeon River for placing their trust and confidence in me. I would also like to thank all the many dedicated volunteers who worked so hard on my campaign and indeed all the volunteers who worked on all the campaigns in my riding. Volunteers play such an integral role in the service of our democracy.

In this Parliament, I look forward to continuing to represent the city of St. Albert and the many communities I now have the privilege of representing in this newly drawn riding. I pledge to the residents of St. Albert—Sturgeon River that I will do everything I can to be a strong and effective voice on their behalf in the House of Commons.

The wildfire situation across Canada, particularly in western Canada, is dangerous. It is very serious. We have seen more than a million and a half hectares burn. We have seen tens of thousands of people evacuated. Homes and property have been damaged and destroyed. Entire communities are at risk. The intensity of the fires is so strong that the smoke can be felt and has impacted places as far away as the United Kingdom and Florida.

I want to join colleagues in expressing my sympathy and concern for the thousands upon thousands of Canadians who are impacted by these wildfires. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, members of law enforcement, volunteers, and members of communities who are stepping up and working tirelessly in often very difficult and dangerous environments to save lives, to save property and infrastructure and to assist impacted communities.

Let me say that this has been a devastating wildfire season, and it has been felt in my riding of St. Albert—Sturgeon River. On May 3, a fire was ignited in the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area in Sturgeon County due to an apparent mechanical or electric failure of an all-terrain vehicle. Due to dry and windy conditions, the fire quickly spread, engulfing more than 3,200 hectares. More than 70 homes were evacuated, and the situation on the ground was very dangerous and very volatile.

Indeed, there was the real risk of catastrophe, with the fire being proximate to Alberta's industrial heartland, which is the largest hydrocarbon processing area in the country. There was a real risk that the fire would spread to the town of Redwater, a community of 2,100 residents. In the face of this very serious situation, what we saw in the way of the response to the wildfire were acts of courage from residents, leadership from local officials from the province, and neighbours and communities coming together to lend a helping hand.

In that regard, I wish to join the mayor of Sturgeon County, Alanna Hnatiw, in thanking the Sturgeon County Emergency Services team; the provincial wildfire resource branch; the provincial ministries of forestry, transportation and parks; the RCMP; many community members; and the neighbouring counties of Parkland, Lamont, Strathcona and Fort Hills, for their efforts in combatting the fire, as well as lending resources, personnel and equipment. I would also like to acknowledge the Sturgeon Regional Emergency Management Partnership, which includes Sturgeon County, as well as the towns of Morinville, Redwater, Gibbons, Bon Accord and Legal, for its vital emergency response coordination efforts. As a result of all of those efforts, the fire, after nearly a month, was finally contained as of May 30, and lives, livestock, residents and businesses have been saved.

Although catastrophe was averted, make no mistake about it, the impact of this wildfire on residents in eastern Sturgeon County has been devastating. In these days, there are residents who are literally sifting through the ashes. People lost their homes. They have lost livestock and pets. Valuable property was damaged and destroyed, and treasured recreation areas were lost. While the wildfire has been contained, for those who have been impacted, the road to rebuilding has just begun. I pledge to those impacted residents that I will do everything I can, working with my provincial and municipal colleagues, to ensure that they receive the support and resources they need and deserve as they begin the process of rebuilding.

With respect to the wildfires that are raging, out of control, across Canada, and in the face of recent disasters, including the Jasper wildfire, all of these things ought to constitute a five-alarm wake-up call for the government. The fact is that we have seen a deterioration in fire and emergency services across Canada. There are real issues with respect to personnel and resources. There are issues with respect to equipment and coordination, and we have seen from the government a misguided and ideological approach in its opposition to preventative measures, such as prescribed burns, which resulted in the tinderbox that was Jasper National Park, and that led to a fire that was likely preventable. Certainly, a fire of that scale was preventable. It would not have happened but for the mismanagement and incompetence of the government. When it comes to fire prevention and preparedness, the government has a lot of work to do.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite's party continues to shift the blame of the wildfires onto individuals, ignoring the overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is intensifying these disasters. By refusing to implement meaningful climate policies, are you not actively undermining efforts to prevent and manage wildfires? This is making it harder for the government to protect Canadians from worsening crises. Can you please respond?