Province's delays in response to wildfire evacuees have 'fuelled distrust': Sask. ombudsman

Saskatchewan ombudsman Sharon Pratchler says the provincial government's response to wildfire evacuations needs to improve.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Pratchler said she has been hearing calls from evacuees living in cars, tents and parking lots without access to basic needs like food or shelter, or clear information about where they should go and who is supposed to support them.

"Your process to provide services to those people who have been displaced from the homes in northern Saskatchewan are not working for many of them," Pratchler said.

Pratchler said her office has received numerous calls from people confused about where to go due to a lack of organization.

"We believe that people would be better able to manage the situation when they understand that there is a plan in place, and what that plan is and how it affects them," she said.

Pratchler issued 14 immediate calls to action to improve supports for evacuees. They include ensuring the 24/7 help hotline is properly staffed, creating one list of all evacuation sites, ensuring that there is a space for doctors who have been evacuated from La Ronge to see their patients, and providing information on a long-term plan for rehousing those who have lost their homes.

She said these calls to action are urgent.

"The delays in response and accesses to services to meet basic needs, a safe place to sleep and food has fuelled distrust," Pratchler said.

Pratchler promised a formal investigation into the government's handling of the crisis.

"There will be a review by my office later on, but the focus right now is on immediate needs," she said.

As of noon CST Tuesday, there were 23 active wildfires in the province, with five considered contained, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

Jordan McPhail, the Saskatchewan NDP's MLA for Cumberland — which includes the northeastern region, where many fires are burning — says he has heard the same concerns the ombudsman expressed.

"What Pratchler has revealed this morning reinforces so much of what I've been hearing since the wildfire crisis began nearly two weeks ago," the Opposition MLA said at a Tuesday news conference.

McPhail said he's been told some evacuees are going thousands of dollars into debt trying to manage the crisis, and some are driving long distances to use grocery store vouchers provided to evacuees by the province.