The opposition is still seeking answers to this past summer’s wildland fires in northwestern Ontario.

They, and others, have been critical about how well the Ministry of Natural Resources was prepared.

Two First Nations and several lodges were destroyed by fires this past summer.

Thousands of people, many from First Nations communities, were forced to evacuate, in some cases, without the immediate support of the province.

Speaking at Queen’s Park, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says a public inquiry is needed.

“Many more communities were forced to evacuate to places all over Ontario,” says Mamakwa.

“This government let the north down. Will the premier launch a public inquiry into the government’s emergency response to the wildfires?

Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris says a review of operations internally is underway, but deflects the demand by outlining the investments the government has made to wildland firefighting

“We have increased the wildland firefighting budget by 114%,” says Harris.

“Under the previous Liberal-NDP coalition, that budget was stagnant, stagnant for years. It was one of the first things we did when we came in and we took government, was increase that budget because we knew it was important.”

Harris adds that the province has also ordered six new CL515 water bombers and is in the process of acquiring five new helicopters.