Conservative MP says federal inaction on wildfires led to Atlantic Canada forest bans
Michelle Rempel Garner told reporters in Ottawa that years of Liberal inaction on wildfire preparedness forced Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to take the unprecedented action of closing off wooded areas to the public.
'Four full wildfire seasons ago, the Liberals promised more water bombers, more firefighters. Where are they?' said Rempel Garner, referring to a 2021 Liberal campaign promise to dedicate $500 million to community firefighting.
'(W)henever there's a major crisis, what the Liberal government has done by their inaction has conditioned Canadians to expect that the only response they can see … is to restrict their movement,' she continued.
Rempel Garner wouldn't say whether she objected to the provincial bans themselves.
She made the comments at an unrelated announcement on proposed criminal code reforms for non-resident offenders.
The sweeping provincial forest bans have divided conservatives along both regional and ideological lines, with some drawing drawing comparisons to COVID restrictions.
Ontario MP Leslyn Lewis, for example, speculated on social media that the bans could spiral into broader lockdowns.
'While the government says this is to prevent forest fires, the approach has left many feeling discouraged, disconnected, and wondering if there's a bigger purpose at play,' tweeted Lewis.
Other Conservatives, such as ex-national campaign manager Fred DeLorey have defended the measures.
DeLorey, who is from Nova Scotia, wrote in a recent Substack post that the province's forest ban was the product of 'hard-earned wisdom.'
'Here's the problem: Nova Scotia is built differently than the rest of the country … When conditions are this dry, even low-risk activity becomes high-stakes,' wrote DeLorey.
DeLorey is a close ally of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who last week announced a 12-week ban on entering the woods, carrying a fine of $25,000.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt followed Houston's lead over the weekend in closing off the woods to recreational activities. No fine had been set as of press time.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hasn't said whether he supports the provincial restrictions.
The office of Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rempel Garner's accusation of Liberal inaction on wildfire preparedness.
National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
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Dan Mazier, a Conservative from Manitoba and Shadow Minister of Health, posted the letter on X (archived): In this letter, the Conservative members of Parliament expressed concern that Grifols had been the target of a takeover attempt by Brookfield Asset Management, a Canadian fund to which Carney has ties. "Given Mark Carney's significant personal investments in Brookfield, we are further concerned about the Prime Minister's potential financial conflict-of-interests in this matter," the letter read. Indeed, Grifols had been in talks twice with Brookfield. In November 2024, the company announced it had terminated deal talks with Brookfield. Then again in April 2025, several reports said the family that owns Grifols was discussing a possible $7 billion takeover deal with Brookfield. Snopes was able to verify that Carney did have ties to Brookfield. While he did not own any of its shares outright, a Form 10-K annual report from the company showed he owned $6.8 million in unexercised options to acquire shares of the fund as of Dec. 31, 2024. Carney had also been chair of the board until the day he announced his candidacy to lead the Liberal Party in the 2025 elections. However, after his victory and before he was sworn in as prime minister, Carney put his assets into a blind trust — that is, a trust whose rules preclude the trustee from consulting with Carney on how to invest or divest. On July 10, 2025, the ethics commissioner published the list of Carney's assets in the blind trust. They did include stock options for Brookfield. We have contacted Carney's office asking if he was considering divesting from the company altogether and we will update this report should he respond. "Form 10-K 2024 | Brookfield Asset Management." Jan. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Board of Directors Announces Termination of Acquisition Discussions with Brookfield." Nov. 2024, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Enters into Agreement with Canadian Blood Services to Accelerate Self-Sufficiency in Immunoglobulins for Canada." Sept. 2022, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Group Enters into Agreement with Canadian Plasma Resources to Secure Plasma Supply in Canada." 2023, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Hannay, Chris. "Spanish Drugmaker Using Canadian-Donated Blood Plasma for Products Sold Abroad." The Globe and Mail, 12 Aug. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Mark Carney Holdings | Ethics Commissioner." 10 July 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Reuters Staff. "Grifols in 15-Year Deal with Canada for Plasma-Based Medicines." Reuters, 7 Sept. 2022, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. ---. "Spanish Pharma Company Grifols' Shares up on Brookfield Talk." Reuters, 2 Apr. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "The Honourable Hedy Fry - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada." 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Transcript: Grifols Q2 Earnings Call. Grifols, 29 July 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Solve the daily Crossword
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Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Telegram that Friday's Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska showed that negotiations are possible even as the fighting continues. —With assistance from Yuliya Fedorinova. What Declining Cardboard Box Sales Tell Us About the US Economy Americans Are Getting Priced Out of Homeownership at Record Rates Bessent on Tariffs, Deficits and Embracing Trump's Economic Plan How Syrian Immigrants Are Boosting Germany's Economy Twitter's Ex-CEO Is Moving Past His Elon Musk Drama and Starting an AI Company ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
