Climate Change continues to be one of the biggest issues on minds of voters this election.

The ongoing forest fire situation across Canada may be a significant factor for this, including in Northwestern Ontario where officials confirmed eight new starts as of Thursday night.

Right out of the gate in the campaign was a promise from Liberal leader Justin Trudeau that if re-elected, the country would be more prepared for the next fire season thanks to an investment of $500 million to help with equipment and hiring more firefighters.

Liberal candidate for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding Patty Hajdu says the party has been always focused on fire season during their time in power.

“Some people might not remember the Fort McMurray fire that decimated that town that was related to a forest fire that was out of control, we were there,” says Hajdu. “I was actually on the committee in cabinet that looked at how we supported Fort McMurray both through the fighting of the fire, and afterwards the recovery. The Federal government has a very strong program for provinces facing disaster and catastrophe, such as forest fires.”

Chantel Bryson is running for the NDP against Hajdu in the riding and feels the Liberals have not been able to handle the forest fires or climate change during their six years in power.

“They haven’t been on top of it at all, I have a camp in Geraldton right across right across from the fire deployment air station so that’s simply not true,” says Bryson. “They’ve completely ignored the First Nation communities calls for traditional fire prevention across the country. They’ve done nothing about climate change that has actually been causing the escalating temperatures we’ve felt this summer and last summer especially. They’ve done nothing but buying a pipeline. Simply making firefighters a growing profession is not a solution.”

As of Thursday there were 100 active fires in Northwestern Ontario with 16 not under control.

 

Thunder Bay-Superior North

Patty Hajdu (Liberals)
Joshua Taylor (Conservatives)
Chantelle Bryson (NDP)
Amanda Moddejonge (Green Party)
Rick Daines (People’s Party)

Thunder Bay-Rainy River

Marcus Powlowski (Liberals)
Adelina Pecchia (Conservatives)
Yuk-Sem Won (NDP)
Tracey MacKinnon (Green Party)
Alan Aubut (People’s Party)