Wildfires a ‘stark reminder’ of climate perils as minister vows $82M boost

Volunteer driven organizations are receiving $82M from the federal government to enhance their disaster preparedness response as Canada grapples with its worst wildfire year.

Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season ever, with nearly 10 million hectares burned, and now volunteer organizations helping in the fight will get an $82 million funding boost.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair made the announcement on Tuesday, pointing to the still-growing scope of the devastation.

“An area nearly the size of Newfoundland has already burned so far this year. It is a stark reminder that the frequency and severity of climate related disasters are growing each year,” Blair said.

Groups receiving the money include the Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Salvation Army and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada.

The Canadian Red Cross historically has focused their disaster relief efforts overseas, according to CEO Conrad Sauvé. He says responding to disasters in Canada were an exception, but that has changed dramatically in the past 10 years.

“The Calgary floods, Fort McMurray wildfires, B.C. fires, floods in Quebec and Ontario, hurricanes in Atlantic Canada. The vast majority of the Canadian Red Cross response efforts are now domestically focused,” Sauvé said.

“We can no longer treat these events as exceptional. We must increase our standing capacity to respond to events in Canada.”

Much of this funding will go toward helping the organizations ensure they are ready to respond to increasingly frequent disasters. This includes training  and retaining volunteers, plus buying equipment.