It’s disheartening to know that our provincial and federal governments are willing to prioritize finances and economic riches to develop the so-called Ring of Fire mining region and dedicate years of research, planning and organization to this development, yet spend little to no time in preparing for natural disasters that endanger the lives of the people who live in these same areas. Plenty of experts and spokespeople have pointed out that governments have not done enough over the past few years to prepare for forest fire emergencies or to properly address this danger.
In a Globe and Mail article, Noah Freedman, vice-president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union local 703 and a ten-year veteran of the provincial wildland fire service, stated that the province’s number of fire crews is fewer than what was available decades ago. Compared with past years, fewer fire crews are dealing with forest fires across a massive area that is twice the size of France. Freedman also pointed out that the province lacks aircraft and equipment, giving the example that even though there are nine large water bomber aircraft, two were reported as being grounded for repairs.
First Nation leaders and citizens everywhere can easily see what the different levels of government prioritize in the north.
In a CBC news story, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN), commented that “In their haste to extract our resources in our territories, both Ontario and Canada are ignoring the immediate threats our communities are facing because of climate change.”