Federal government will provide support for Alberta wildfire
Posted May 31, 2019 4:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness says the federal government is currently working on a response to the wildfire situation in northern Alberta.
Ralph Goodale releasing a statement Friday saying the feds are working with both federal and provincial partners to plan details for assistance.
“I have received a request from the Province of Alberta, regarding the wildfire situation. On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, and I have accepted their formal request for federal assistance to help citizens in need,” begins the statement.
“The Government Operations Centre has dedicated staff working to coordinate the federal response to the situation in Alberta. Officials are working closely with federal and provincial partners on planning the details of this assistance, including support from Canadian Armed Forces. The federal government will make air and ground resources available as necessary for evacuations and the delivery of aid and medical support. Citizens can rest assured that help will be provided.
“I strongly encourage impacted residents to follow the directions and advice of their municipal law enforcement and first responders. On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to thank the first responders working tirelessly to keep everyone safe.
“The Government of Canada, through the Government Operations Centre, continues to monitor and assess the national wildfire situation carefully.”
About 10,000 people are out of their homes as more than two dozen wildfires burn in the northern part of the province.
The town of High Level has been empty for more than a week as the largest fire burns in that area.
Officials with the Paddle Prairie Metis settlement 70 kilometres to the south say at least 15 homes there have been destroyed.
The federal government has stepped up before to support Alberta during natural disasters.
In 2016, the Liberals handed out a cheque of $300 million to help with the recovery of the Fort McMurray wildfire. It also matched donations from the Red Cross which was another $90 million.
READ MORE: Feds giving $300 million to Alberta to help rebuild Fort McMurray
Six years ago the Conservatives in Ottawa forked out $2.8 million to help pay for Alberta’s flood recovery.
READ MORE: Federal government compensating Alberta $2.8 billion for flood claims
Premier Jason Kenney was the Federal Employment Minister at that time and said it was a huge financial commitment to post-flood reconstruction efforts in Alberta.
– With files from the Canadian Press
