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:
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.
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