Next wildfire season could be worse than last year, says Sajjan | Forest fires 2023

Open in full screen mode

Canada has experienced a record forest fire season in 2023. (Archive photo)

The Canadian Press

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says this year's wildfires could be even worse than last year .

This morning we received an alarming, but not surprising, update on the upcoming wildfire season. We were warned that we had to prepare for the worst, he announced on Wednesday.

Early reports suggest this year's wildfire season could be worse than last .

A quote from Harjit Sajjan, Federal Minister of Civil Protection

Provincial, territorial and federal ministers responsible for emergency response concluded two days of meetings in Ottawa during which discussions on the next forest fire season were held.

Minister Sajjan explained that these discussions did not result in a new strategy, but rather in targeted coordination to be more responsive.

Wildfires 2023

Consult the complete file

Forest fires 2023

Consult the complete file

FollowFollow

He added that this includes ensuring that all provinces and territories know what tools they have so they can respond quickly.

Open in full screen mode

Federal Minister of Civil Protection Harjit Sajjan (File photo)

In the minister's view, politicians will learn lessons from last year, the worst wildfire season on record in Canada.

These lessons include detecting rekindled fires early to take action before they can harm a city and measures as simple as making sure furniture The ministers also met with indigenous leaders, Harjit Sajjan said. We have to get better and better, and I think we have done that, using their local knowledge, he said.