THUNDER BAY – After many people in Thunder Bay—Superior North and adjacent northern ridings were severely impacted by out-of-control wildfires this summer, particularly Thunder Bay 36, the largest wildfire in the Ontario’s recorded history, Ontario NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay—Superior North) is calling on the Ford government to take responsibility for its failure to adequately prepare for increasingly severe wildfires and protect northern communities:
“The question isn’t just how much money this government is spending, but whether it’s spending in the right places and investing in the preparation, equipment and full-time firefighters needed to protect northern communities. We need at least 200 fire crews, year-round staff, proper equipment, firebreaks and meaningful partnerships with First Nations. The government was warned for years about the growing risks of wildfires. People lost their homes and fled with no warning. This was not inevitable. The Minister failed to prepare and must be held accountable.”