NEARLY HALF OF SASKATCHEWAN’S AIR TANKER FLEET SECRETLY GROUNDED DURING WILDFIRE CRISIS

SASKATOON – The Sask. Party government is facing serious questions after it was revealed that at least four of the province’s 10 existing air tankers have been grounded during the worst wildfire season in a decade. This is in addition to the brand-new tanker that was grounded.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) currently operates a fleet of ten air tankers:

Four Convair 580A land-based air tankers
Six CL-215T turbine-powered water-scooping air tankers

According to the government, these aircraft make up a “modern, efficient and fast tanker fleet”. The government says the Convair 580As are expected to remain in service until the end of their “useful lifespan” in 2027.

Publicly available flight data shows that two Convair 580As and two CL-215Ts have been out of service during the worst stretch of wildfires in a decade:

Tanker 474 (Convair 580A, C-GYSK) has been grounded since August 21, 2024
Tanker 473 (Convair 580A, C-GVSK) has been grounded since September 17, 2024
Tanker 216 (CL-215T, C-FAFN) has been grounded since August 31, 2024
Tanker 218 (CL-215T, C-FAFP) has been grounded since August 13, 2024

The Sask. Party has not publicly disclosed or explained why nearly half of Saskatchewan’s water bomber fleet have been grounded.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable that nearly half our water bombers were sitting idle during the worst wildfire season in a decade,” said Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck.

“After 18 years, this tired and out-of-touch Sask. Party government can’t be trusted to do the job they were elected to do.

“We need a government that’s focused on the future and that includes protecting our communities as best we can.”

On Monday and Tuesday, Beck and Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail visited communities damaged in the fires, including Denare Beach, Creighton and La Ronge. The MLAs spoke to local leaders about the challenges ahead with recovery and rebuilding and issues with how the province responded to the crisis.

“Our air operation should have had all of our resources at the ready in safe and operable condition,” McPhail said. “The future of communities depends on these planes.”

Premier Scott Moe has not faced reporters and explained why his government tried to cover up the grounded water bombers.

Tail number, make and model, and the ownership of each aircraft can be verified with the federal government's civil aircraft register.

-30-

Latest posts

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED The Moosomin-Montmartre MLA Continues Hiding From Media As Questions Grow

REGINA – Today, more questions about embattled MLA Kevin Weedmark have been raised following the release of an article from Grasslands News about his privately owned and operated newspaper, The World Spectator.

BRIGHTON RESIDENTS LEFT IN THE DARK: CARLA BECK'S TEAM CALLS OUT MLA KEN CHEVELDAYOFF OVER PHANTOM SCHOOLS

SASKATOON— Carla Beck's team, joined by local Brighton resident Dr. Sarah Chomicki, is calling on Scott Moe to fulfill his government's broken promises and immediately get to work on a neighborhood school for the rapidly growing community of Brighton.

NEW DATA SHOWS THAT SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE HIGHEST CHILD FOOD BANK USAGE IN CANADA

Beck Commits To School Nutrition Program, Doing All She Can To End Child Poverty
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is sounding the alarms on new data showing more children in Saskatchewan are forced to rely on the food bank than anywhere else in Canada.

CARLA BECK GOVERNMENT WOULD RESTORE DIRECT-TO-LANDLORD RENT PAYMENTS AS MOOSE JAW FACES RISING HOMELESSNESS

More Affordable Housing, Rent Control Also Part Of Plan Being Developed By Beck’s Team
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck’s team is in Moose Jaw today committing that, should they form the next provincial government, her team will restore direct-to-landlord rent payments for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients.

NDP Caucus Office