Manitoba declined to follow through on urgent plans to review wildfire preparedness after NDP took power
CBC
Manitoba declined to follow through on urgent plans outlined in provincial documents to conduct an external review of wildfire preparedness after the NDP took power in 2023.
The minister in charge said the province conducted internal assessments of the wildfire service instead.
In a note prepared for the incoming government marked as an "urgent issue" in the fall of 2023, Manitoba's wildfire service said it wanted to review how prepared it was to respond to the next wildfire season, detect wildfires and make tactical decisions.
That note was part of a government-transition binder prepared for NDP officials following the provincial election in October 2023, in which the previous Progressive Conservative government was defeated. That binder was later published, with some redactions.
The service said in the note that it was "exploring opportunities" to hire a consultant to conduct a forensic examination of the 2023 wildfire season and assess the preparedness of the wildfire service for the next wildfire season.
"The focus of the study would be on identifying opportunities for improvement and addressing gaps," read the note, which listed assistant deputy minister Kristin Hayward as the official responsible.
The study would have examined how decisions were made both before and during the wildfire season, whether staff requested, collected and examined the right information to prepare for and manage wildfires, and whether the service had the right systems in in place to to support "safe, efficient and effective decision-making and operations," according to the note.
The study also would have looked at "whether the right information got to the people that needed it, both on a daily operational basis and during incidents," and whether existing policies and practices were followed, according to the note.
In addition, the study would have looked at whether key wildfire service personnel had the appropriate training and experience, the note said.
Since the 2023 note, the government has not hired a consultant to assess Manitoba's wildfire preparedness, according to a statement from the province, which was not attributed to any official.
"The province reviewed the options but ultimately did not proceed with using an external consultant at that time," the statement said.
Ian Bushie, Manitoba's minister of natural resources and Indigenous futures, said in a statement the province conducted internal assessments of response times, protection and wildfire forecasting in 2024 and 2025.
Those assessments were led by the wildfire service, in collaboration with other departments and agencies, he said, with a focus on "building capacity within our public service" rather than outsourcing.
"Their deep knowledge and expertise provide strong internal capacity to identify what worked and where improvements are needed," Bushie said.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.