Public service unions and calling out government cuts for worsening the impact of wildfires as more than 890 wildfires continue to burn across Canada.
Stephanie Frechette, vice president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), said that better managing wildfires will keep Canada strong, referencing a catchphrase used in Mark Carney’s election platform.
She noted that U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to slap more tariffs on Canadian goods after wildfire smoke traveled south of the border. During the World Cup final on Sunday, president Trump again told Prime Minister Mark Carney to get wildfires under control.
Frechette said the government needs to ensure emergency preparedness is growing, not shrinking. Frechette highlighted the loss of public scientists at the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation. This centre helps to produce wildfire and disaster mapping that emergency responders depend on. As part of Natural Resources Canada, the centre is being gutted by the department’s plan to cut 400 jobs by 2029.
“This is exactly when public expertise matters most,” Frechette said in an interview with rabble.ca. “And instead, the government is dismantling the scientific and technical capacity that would help anticipate risks, prevent crisis and protect Canadians.”
Sharon DeSousa, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), had similar concerns about public service cuts leaving Canadians vulnerable in times of crisis. She criticized the slashing of half workforce at the Government Operations Centre which provides 24/7 support to national emergency response.
“This is not just about workers’ jobs, this is about saving lives,” DeSousa said in an interview with rabble. “We are not properly equipping people to respond early enough to possible wildfires, floods and other national security risks like cyber security threats. All of this is extremely important, and the government has chosen not to take this seriously.”
READ MORE: Wildland firefighters are firefighters: Union speaks out against misclassification
Last week, much of Ontario received air quality alerts as the province became blanketed in smoke. The smoke has now moved to the northeastern parts of the U.S. Air quality warnings continued into this week for Edmonton and much of Alberta.
The Government of Canada has said that they remain committed to building a more resilient country. Natural Resources Canada announced a $1.25 million investment to support six projects aimed at strengthening wildfire preparedness and response capacity.
Prime Minister Carney also convened an Incident Response Group with ministers and senior officials on Wednesday to discuss the wildfire situation across Canada.
“From wildfire smoke and extreme heat, to flooding and storms, coordinated forecasting and public alerts provide the information people need to make informed decisions and reduce risks,” Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, said in a press release. “By strengthening our ability to monitor, forecast, and communicate environmental hazards, we are helping communities across Canada adapt to a changing climate, improve resilience, and stay safe.”
Wildfire smoke and the associated health risks have lessened for the week, but fires continue. As millions of hectares burn this year in Canada public service unions have highlighted that these kinds of crises could have been mitigated. The lack of capacity to do so was exactly what they were warning against when the sweeping cuts to the public service were first announced.
“Cutting this public service means fewer Parks Canada firefighters on the front line. It means less support during their crisis and it means fewer resources to help us recover when disaster strikes,” DeSousa said.
“It’s not just dollar bills. These are services, and services can be delivered in an alternate way,” she added.
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Nick Seebruch, editor
