MPP Lise Vaugeois calls on Ford to renew long term contracts for helicopters to tackle wildfires

THUNDER BAY – Ontario NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay – Superior North), is calling on the Ford government to provide a status update on the emergency response and evacuations for the Thunder Bay wildfires:

“What we know is that long term contract with helicopter service was not renewed this year,” said MPP Vaugeois. “We believe this has never happened before. The contract would guarantee that the fire service has a critical number of helicopters loaded with special equipment and can ship an entire crew up to a fire area early.

“Without this contract, the service must rent helicopters on an ad hoc basis, making it impossible to plan in advance. Thanks to Ford’s neglect, wildland firefighters are always playing catch up.

"Right now, two water bombers are sitting on the ground because of a lack of pilots. We should have 200 fire crews but may have as few as 150. Doug Ford and his Conservatives need to stop treating the North as an afterthought and provide the necessary help to tackle the immense scale for wildfires affecting families, communities and First Nations across the North.”