SASKATOON - News that the province had put in a request to the Feds for resources to fight the wildfires has raised eyebrows from the Opposition.
“It should not have taken nearly seven weeks for the Sask. Party government to swallow their pride and request firefighting support from Ottawa,” said Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail in a statement released Wednesday night.
His statement came after the province announced that Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod had sent a letter to the Federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Public Safety Eleanor Olszewski requesting resources to assist in the wildfire response efforts. Those included up to 300 Type 3 fire personnel for wildfire mop up operations, helicopters, value protection kits, and water tenders and water haulers.
McPhail, who has been critical of the government for a slow response to the wildfire situation in the past number of weeks, seemed to believe this latest request was a case of too little, too late.
“Homes in Denare Beach have burnt to the ground. The entire community of East Trout Lake has been wiped out by fire. Local volunteer firefighters have worked to exhaustion, day after day, with no sign of relief or reinforcements.
"Where were these firefighters two months ago? Why did it take so long for the Sask. Party government to request help?
“Premier Scott Moe and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod need to be straight with the people of Saskatchewan and explain why the fire response this year has seemingly been the most chaotic and disorganized in the history of the province.”
Officials with the government and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency have said over the past number of weeks that there has been regular communication with the federal government on resources. Back in June, Minister McLeod had said the provincial government asked the Feds for two base camps to support firefighting crews, and tents for up to 200 people.
“Those requests have been communicated to the federal government,” said McLeod. “I spoke with both the Federal Minister of Public Safety and the Federal Minister of Emergency Management this morning on how we can align the needs of our province and the resources they can offer.”
