The knee-jerk reaction from the federal government in the wake of the disastrous Jasper wildfire has been to go on the defensive about the way Parks Canada managed the national park. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault was not so much concerned that a third of the town was consumed by fire as he was about congratulating himself that everyone was evacuated safely.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. The safe evacuation was a result of the hard work and bravery of on-the-ground frontline workers and volunteers.
The truth is that wildfires in Canada’s vast boreal forests have been a fact of life from time immemorial. What we’ve learned from recent fires in Lytton, B.C., Jasper and Fort McMurray, Alta. is that this country needs a national firefighting force that can take on disastrous infernos in any province.
Wildfires do not respect provincial boundaries and we frequently call on other nations to help us out in times of intense wildfire action.
Despite rebates, the federal government collects billions of dollars in carbon and gas taxes. That money should be used for a new emergency force that can respond to disasters such as the one in Jasper.
As it is, the federal government pours billions of dollars into a bloated bureaucracy and an ever-growing multitude of “consultants.” The size of the civil service has burgeoned by more than 43% in the nine years the Liberals have been in power, while the population has grown only 15%. Their spending on outside consultants skyrocketed to more than $15 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year. The Liberal government’s agency, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, has morphed into a jolly green giant of a slush fund.
According to Auditor General Karen Hogan, SDTC violated its conflict of interest policies 90 times, awarded $59 million to 10 projects that were not eligible and frequently overstated the environmental benefits of its projects.
That’s all money that could be spent on a national wildfire fighting force.
Instead of funding more civil servants and more Chardonnay-swilling consultants, a more sensible plan would be for the federal government to invest in more on-the-ground, hands-on firefighters to protect the precious homes, businesses and livelihoods of Canadians beset by wildfires.