In the debate on the
Community Safety Estimates, Minister Michael Weger admitted that two CL-215 turbine amphibious air tankers would be undergoing maintenance until July. In the same debate Weger also stated that an additional Q400 Air Tanker purchased by the government would not arrive until August.
As well, without any warning, last October, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency website changed the number of Convair 580A land-based air tankers from four to three.
“It appears we’re down four water bombers and have a Sask. Party Government that is completely missing in action yet again when it comes to wildfire preparedness and disaster response,” said Jordan McPhail, Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs.
“My own constituents are already fearing the worst and to know the government has failed to build a reliable water bomber fleet — yet again — is not going to help them rest easy at night.”
Last year, as unprecedented fires ripped through and destroyed entire communities in the North, four of 10 bombers remained grounded. Backlash was swift to the failures of Moe and his Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod, who was bounced from the role in the months following the catastrophic response.
At one point during the crisis in June, McLeod admitted that a brand new, multimillion-dollar water bomber was sitting idle in La Ronge because the government didn’t have the foresight to train any pilots to operate it.
Victims have openly wondered of the impact four additional bombers could have had in protecting communities like Denare Beach, where 200 homes were burned to the ground.
In the wake of the disaster, Moe repeatedly rejected calls for an independent public inquiry, instead commissioning a report from MNP. That report was supposed to be delivered in February — to date, it has still not been made public.
Saskatchewan’s Ombudsman stated in a report released Thursday that their plans to do a review of the Government’s wildfire response was ended after the government announced the MNP report.
“A year later and we still have zero accountability and a Premier that clearly hasn’t learned a thing from last year’s unprecedented mismanagement of the wildfires in the North,” said Nicole Sarauer, Shadow Minister for Justice, Corrections, Policing & Community Safety.
“The Sask. Party promised to do better, and they promised they’d review the process to address their failings — they’ve clearly failed to follow through and are actively burying reports reviewing their actions or lack thereof.”
Carla Beck’s team is calling for the immediate release of the MNP Report and an emergency briefing Thursday to provide an update on the state of the water bomber fleet.
“Wildfire season in Saskatchewan started on April 1 — there is no time to waste,” McPhail said. “The people who lost their homes and communities due to Sask. Party incompetence deserve better.