Good morning. This summer has brought into focus an important question: How should Canada update its wildfire response in the face of longer, hotter fire seasons? More on that below, plus big bank earnings and a high-profile engagement. But first:
Today’s headlines
- Ottawa to back new port expansions as it signs critical minerals agreement with Germany
- Israeli tanks push into the edge of Gaza City ahead of a planned meeting in Washington chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump on the region
- A Parliamentary study warns that Ottawa’s strong borders bill could infringe Charter and privacy rights
- Being a journalist in Gaza is not just a job. It is a challenge between life and death, writes Hasan Jaber
A water bomber plane drops water over the Drought Hill wildfire burning near Peachland, B.C., outside of West Kelowna, on July 31.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
Wildfires
How can Canada fight fires, better?
Hello, I’m Andrea Woo and I’m a reporter in The Globe’s Vancouver bureau.
Canada’s wildfire seasons have changed. It’s apparent in the earlier starts and later finishes, fires threatening communities from early spring through to the fall. More than 30,000 people were displaced by wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba alone this year, before even the start of summer.
It’s apparent also in the catastrophic damage fires now leave behind. In 2023, the country’s most destructive wildfire season to date, more than 173,400 square kilometres burned – more than double the previous record and six times more than the 10-year average.
And it’s apparent in the Herculean efforts to mobilize resources. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), which co-ordinates firefighting resources across the country and internationally, has operated at its most severe national preparedness level every day this year since late May, signalling that fire activity is significant, firefighters in every jurisdiction in Canada are in use and international help has been requested.
Considering all the changes we’re seeing, is it time for Canada’s wildfire strategy to change as well?
That’s the question reporter Matthew McClearn and I sought to answer, putting the question to experts across the country.
Currently, each province and territory is primarily responsible for its own wildfire management. When local resources are exhausted, they can formally request additional help through CIFFC, which then co-ordinates personnel and equipment from other provinces/territories, the U.S. and other countries. (You may have heard about firefighters flying in from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, tapped in part because their wildfire seasons peak at opposite times of the year.)
The federal government can provide further assistance by deploying the army, for example, to assist with evacuations or mop-up duties.
There’s broad consensus that this system worked well for many years – until it didn’t.
Climate change has brought hotter and drier conditions that are accelerating wildfire activity, pushing our response capabilities to the brink.
Provinces are seeing more fires they can respond to, top emergency officials have called the status quo unsustainable and firefighters are facing burnout and mounting mental health strains from longer and more challenging deployments.
A worker walks in a devastated neighbourhood in west Jasper, Alta., on Aug. 19, 2024.AMBER BRACKEN/The Canadian Press
Experts say the status quo is no longer sufficient and that our response must adapt.
There have been calls for a federal emergency management agency, a national firefighting service and a shared pool of firefighting resources. Former emergency preparedness minister Bill Blair has mused about a “NORAD-like” joint disaster response with the U.S., and a civil defence force similar to the U.S. National Guard.
Minister of Emergency Management Eleanor Olszewski said she’s heard the calls, and that her department is meeting with experts and stakeholders across the country, with plans to announce changes this fall.
In our story, Matt and I took a closer look at some of the options being considered. I hope you’ll give it a read.
The Shot
The shortlist: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Jelly Smack Summer by Ralph Pace is part of this year's submissions for one of the world's top wildlife photography contests. It was taken in Monterey Bay, California, USA.Ralph Pace/Supplied
Out of the 100 shortlisted images – some heartbreaking, others beautiful, many both – a jury will pick 19 category winners to be named on Oct. 14 at the Natural History Museum in London. The 100 photos will also be at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum starting Nov. 8. For now, enjoy some of the highlights.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: The Supreme Court of Canada will announce on Thursday whether it will hear a legal challenge over a land claim in Sauble Beach, Ont., that has pitted a small First Nation against some cottagers.
Abroad: TikTok influencers apologize for luring young South African women into jobs at a Russian military drone factory.
Analysis: Monday’s attack on Nasser Hospital in Gaza is a reminder that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won’t let international pressure lead to a ceasefire – not this time.
Earnings season: Two of the country’s biggest banks delivered better-than-expected financial performance as their leaders sounded a note of cautious optimism about the economy’s prospects.
TIFF season: The 15 buzziest movies you can’t miss at this year’s Toronto International film festival.
Last but not least: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce engagement.