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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
It's time for regular updates on forest fire emergencies
Opinion Where there's smoke, the saying goes, there's fire. But there isn't necessarily information. Right now, we unfortunately have plenty of both smoke and fire — with the smoke obscuring the sky across Manitoba. It's not just smoke obscuring things. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie It is the first major emergency Premier Wab Kinew government's has had to handle, but there have been real problems with that government when it comes to getting information out. In the past, for major emergencies like floods and COVID-19, regular government briefings provided daily information that the media could pass on Manitobans. With one of the largest emergencies in Manitoba's recent history and thousands evacuated, you'd think that the government would be ready and able to answer questions — in fact, you'd think it would be trying to use the media to get as much information out as possible. It hasn't been happening. That's a point aptly made outside the legislature by Opposition Leader Obby Khan earlier this week: 'We are in a state of emergency in this province. I would think that a daily news conference, a daily press conference, a daily update to Manitobans would be the appropriate thing … This is one of the largest evacuations in Manitoba history and there's lots of unknowns out there. Manitobans have a right to know.' Instead, the government has been less than available, and less than transparent, about the fire emergency. Since the government declared a provincewide state of emergency on May 28, there have been just two media briefings on the fire, with a weeklong gap in between. And it's been relying on issuing a single new release once a day. Dated, late-in-the-day briefing notes don't help to explain the full picture to Manitobans. The June 4 fire bulletin No. 24 runs an impressive 1,387 words. But there's little explanation of anything that's occurred at the fire scenes or how they are being dealt with. Of those 1,387 words, a total of 1,195 (86 per cent) are cut and pasted from fire bulletin No. 23 of the day before. In other words, an update that contains 192 new words of information — and the bulk of that new information has to do with how donations should be handled through the proper channels, and not be dropped off at evacuation centres. The two releases list 19 significant fires — but of those, the majority of which are out of control, only one has any updated information between fire bulletin No. 23 and fire bulletin No. 24. The June 4 bulletin says that fire NO002, near Lynn Lake, has grown from 67,000 hectares to 71,067 hectares. The rest of the fires, apparently, hadn't burned any additional land or increased in size at all in that time — which is obviously not the case. This isn't to say that the information provided isn't useful and necessary — it's just woefully incomplete. The paucity of up-to-date information in those releases wouldn't matter if the provincial government had officials available who could answer media questions about fire suppression and emergency services and evacuation programs — the problem is that they don't. The government finally held a news conference on Thursday, the first since May 28. It was held, in part, to announce an information portal for Manitobans affected by the wildfires. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The news conference is available for all Manitobans online. It was the first opportunity in a week for the media to ask questions about the fires. Hopefully, the government will see the value in providing media with access to the most information possible. There's real value in having living, breathing humans who can give cogent answers to media questions to allow us to inform the public. Will that happen? Time will tell.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘We're looking to put fires out in our communities': Retired conservation officer looking to help fight wildfires
CTV's Joseph Bernacki has more on how some Manitobans are pushing the province to let them help battle wildfires. A retired conservation officer said the province has refused to accept the help of his colleagues despite the expertise he said they could bring to the effort. 'We've got a number of retired (conservation officers) that are willing and wanting to go out to these fires,' Darryl Hedman said Thursday. Ian Bushie, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures for the province, said they are grateful for the help but must keep community safety top of mind. 'It's been very great to be able to engage,' Bushie said during a news conference. 'And we do have those conversations, but it's also about community safety as well too. So we do not want to put folks in harm's way.' The province told CTV News they are 'grateful for the offers of assistance' and, at the present time, are accepting help from former fire officials on a case-by-case basis.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Province to give update on wildfire situation
Manitoba government officials give an update on the current wildfire situation in the province. Watch LIVE here. This content is not currently available for viewing in your browser. For the best video experience, we recommend using a supported browser for your platform. Please visit our FAQ for more info. [3001/6008] The Manitoba government will give an update on the current wildfire situation in the province. Officials, including Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, will discuss the latest on the wildfires at a news conference Thursday afternoon at 12:45 p.m. at the Manitoba legislature. CTV News Winnipeg will live-stream the event. More than 14,000 Manitobans have registered as evacuees with the Canadian Red Cross due to multiple wildfires in the province's northern communities. According to Wednesday's fire bulletin, 27 active wildfires are burning across the province, and there have been 111 wildfires to date this year. This is a developing story. More details to come.
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Manitoba to give update on wildfire situation at 12:45 p.m.
Manitoba's officials are giving an update on the wildfires burning out of control across the province, forcing thousands out of their homes. CBC News will livestream the news conference at 12:45 p.m. CT on our website and on CBC Gem. Manitoba Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister for the Conservation Officer Service and Manitoba Wildfire Service, and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister for the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, are expected to speak. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC News earlier Thursday that worsening air quality has forced five more First Nations in Manitoba to start preparing the evacuation of vulnerable residents with medical conditions. Four of those communities are in Manitoba's Island Lake region, about 470 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The other community is Misipawistik Cree Nation, roughly 390 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. While getting members with respiratory issues out promptly is a primary concern, the leaders of their communities want to ensure hotel spaces are available in southern Manitoba before they start moving residents, Wilson said. The evacuation of other communities in recent days has been disorganized and unco-ordinated, Wilson said, with some people, including vulnerable residents with medical conditions, still waiting in line for accommodation or meals. "Unfortunately we have no real involvement," Wilson said, with the Red Cross providing evacuation services to First Nations under an agreement with Indigenous Services Canada. Wilson is calling for a regional emergency management strategy in which Indigenous communities have more participation than they do now. "We need First Nations leadership to be involved in the decision-making, and the response time needs to be quick," she said.
Global News
5 days ago
- Climate
- Global News
Manitoba to provide wildfire update Thursday afternoon
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Manitoba government is set to provide the latest update on the province's ongoing wildfire situation. A number of provincial officials will speak to media at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, including Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister, Manitoba Wildfire Service and Conservation Officer Service, and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister, Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy By Wednesday, there were 27 active fires across Manitoba, putting the year's total so far — 111 — well above the average of 88 at this time of year. Global News will stream the news conference live on this page.
