N.L. touts new wildfire hub — but this researcher says going 'all in' on oil and gas undercuts the plan
Forest fire expert says reducing emissions should be a priority
In response to the growing number of forest fires in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada, the provincial government plans to build a "forest fire centre of excellence" in Gander to support fire fighting operations in Atlantic Canada.
But John Vaillant, author of the book Fire Weather: The Making Of A Beast, says that focusing on forest fire mitigation and not the root cause is "like arming teachers in American schools to fight gun violence."
"It doesn't seem reasonable or rational, irrational, to me to develop a fire response without trying to reduce the thing that is causing the fires and making our temperatures warmer and making our forests dry out faster," said Vaillant, pointing to the province's strategy to continue producing oil and gas. "Reducing our emissions has to be front and centre to a meaningful response."
As the climate changes, Vaillant said he's certain forest fires will become more common.
"This is a trend that is marching steadily and it's marching in lockstep with CO2 and methane that we continue to inject into our atmosphere through … our fossil fuel-powered civilization," he said.
At this year's annual Energy N.L. conference, Premier Andrew Furey said the province "will be all in on oil and gas for decades and decades to come."
Vaillant calls this "predatory delay," which is when a government or business continues with damaging practices, leaving the costs to be paid for by future generations.
"To be saying we're going to be going all in on oil and gas when global leaders are really focusing on climate change and are really focusing on the energy transition that is underway right now, this is happening right now," he said. "We can do better and we have to do better."
Forest Fire Centre of Excellence
Gerry Byrne, the newly reappointed minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, said the forest fire centre will focus on wildfire operations, training, research and development.
"This is a very broad-based initiative," he said.
He said the centre will have a wildfire-fighting program with crews, five air tankers and an aerodrome.
"Climate change is real. We have had a major increase in surface temperatures," said Byrne. "A two-degree increase in Labrador, and a one-degree increase … on the island. That may not seem like a significant amount to some, but when it comes to wildfire forecasting and causation that is substantial."
The centre is also an opportunity to make money said Byrne, because when N.L. assists a wildfire outside of the province, "we are reimbursed."
"In fact, last year alone, Newfoundland and Labrador for the purpose of the benefit of sharing our resources, we accumulated $2.1 million in revenue by responding to other provinces emergencies and situations," said Byrne.
Right now there is no timeline for when the centre will be built. However, Byrne is certain Gander will be the air base for the service.
"Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the most amazing experts, professionals in wildfire attack, both from aerial and ground attack," said Byrne, "In fact, so much so that they're not only sought after in other parts of Atlantic Canada … We have been all over the world by demand. They want us."
And in terms of funding, he said there is "base budget within our own provincial program," and that Newfoundland and Labrador is looking to the Atlantic provinces for possible investment in wildfire response.
Byrne said the provincial government is also seeking federal support.
Contradicting claims
At a meeting of Atlantic premiers on June 25, the premier's committed to supporting N.L. in establishing a regional centre for training in fire preparedness and response.
At the cabinet shuffle on July 19, Furey said the Atlantic premiers agreed that N.L. should take the lead in fire preparedness and response.
"There was consensus among the Atlantic premiers that Newfoundland and Labrador, given our expertise, given our geographic position and given, frankly, the assets that we already own, that we should take the lead on that," Furey said.
Byrne said N.L. has resources to offer the other provinces.
"Nova Scotia is envious of Newfoundland and Labrador for the assets that we have," said Byrne. "They have no tanker fleet. They have no airborne capacity to fight fires except for contract helicopter service. That's a very, very small or low, relatively low level of capacity."
But Adèle Poirier, communications director for Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources said in a statement that her province has four helicopter waterbombers "that serve us very well for wildfires and more."
"They are very versatile and can scoop and dump water on a faster rotation, dropping more volume in total on a wildfire," she said.
"To date, our helicopters have been able to meet about almost 100 per cent of our aerial firefighting needs."
Poirier also said that Nova Scotia has wild land firefighters and incident management teams that have supported other wildfires in Canada, and the province sent a planning section chief to help fight the fires in Labrador.
Byrne said New Brunswick has very light aircraft and eight light water bomber aircraft, that "can't scoop up water."
Heidi Cyr, senior communications advisor for New Brunswick's office of the premier, said in a statement that New Brunswick has not yet confirmed funding for Newfoundland and Labrador's project.
"New Brunswick is always open to working in collaboration with our Atlantic neighbours. We were proud to dispatch firefighters recently to combat the blaze in Labrador," said Cyr.
Byrne also said Prince Edward Island has no resources except contract helicopters. P.E.I hasn't responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Amy Feehan