SASKATOON — Saskatoon Westview MLA April ChiefCalf experienced first-hand the difficulty of evacuating their home of almost 20 years during the 2015 La Ronge wildfires. She says the government's claim that the Opposition is politicizing the tragedy makes it personal for her.
She and Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Leader Vicki Mowat held a media availability on Tuesday, June 17, outside the Cosmo Civic Centre, where some evacuees from Northern Saskatchewan communities are still staying.
“I'm going to speak from the heart. This is not political for me. I spent a third of my life in La Ronge, teaching in communities throughout northern Saskatchewan. The people who lived there are my friends, my former students, and my extended family,” ChiefCalf said.
“It's heartbreaking to see the land that I loved so much, my home for 20 years, burned the way it is burned. It is tough to visit friends who are struggling right now, as they don't have the money to buy groceries due to the evacuation. So, this isn't political for me. It's personal.”
ChiefCalf said leaving La Ronge during the 2015 wildfires was terrifying, however, this year is even worse.
“This past weekend, I visited communities like Weyakwin, Sucker River, and Eagle Point. In Sucker River, approximately 12 houses were destroyed. Sucker River is a community that is a 15- to 20-minute drive from where the bomber sat unused at La Ronge Airport,” said ChiefCalf.
“Scott Moe told us the bomber hadn't arrived. That wasn't true. So many people have lost homes, cabins, and entire communities. The least Premier Moe can do is take questions from reporters and explain why he left resources on the table and then lied about it.”
She added that the issue is not only about the water bombers, as she accused the government of leaving people in the dark during a time when they needed honest and dedicated leaders.
The NDP has criticized Premier Scott Moe for their alleged failure to respond to the wildfire crisis and accused the government of allegedly misleading the public regarding the use of aircraft water bombers.
The government, in a statement, said the NDP is again trying to politicize the tragedy, which has impacted the lives of more than 10,000 residents in different communities in Northern Saskatchewan.
“The [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency] has been preparing for the delivery of the first of four new aircraft by training pilots with ground school and simulators. However, Transport Canada requires an additional 20 hours of training to fly new aircraft, as well as 25 hours to learn to fight wildfires with those specific aircraft. Those hours cannot be logged until the actual aircraft arrives.”
“It is disingenuous and dishonest for the NDP to suggest this plane could have been ‘brought into action the moment it arrived.’ Doing so would be dangerous for SPSA staff, crew and the general public, as well as a violation of Transport Canada regulations. Additionally, the pilots who are to receive the training on the new aircraft would have had to be removed from active duty, where they were fighting to save lives and protect Saskatchewan communities.”
The statement added that the government will fully comply with Transport Canada regulations and ensure our pilots are fully operational during a wildfire state of emergency, whereas the Opposition would not.
Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Leader Vicki Mowat, however, said the Opposition understands that pilots need to comply with Transport Canada regulations and get training to operate the state-of-the-art aircraft. Still, the government could have prepared them in advance.
“To suggest that that training couldn't have taken place ahead of time is disingenuous. We know that the government was aware for a year that this state-of-the-art air tanker was on the way. They often referred to it in advance. They could have made a plan in advance, but they didn't,” said Mowat.
“That's what's deeply concerning to us. They didn't make a plan for pilots to be trained by the manufacturer with other provinces that utilize that air tanker, suggesting that it could only have happened during the emergency, is simply inaccurate. They had a responsibility to make that plan ahead of time, and they failed to do that.”
She added that the Opposition is challenging Moe to clarify things, given everything they know about the water bombers, as Saskatchewan residents, especially those affected by the wildfires, have serious questions about the premier's lack of information or perceived disingenuousness with the people of this province.
