The Ford government in Ontario is facing challenges with its forest fire program as the province heads into the fire season. Global News has revealed that one in five of the province’s fire crews are unstaffed, and several crucial aircraft are weeks behind schedule. Despite efforts to attract and retain forest firefighters with a $5,000 recruitment bonus, staffing levels are still below target. The government has acknowledged the importance of forest firefighters and is looking for longer-term solutions to address recruitment and retention issues.
As the fire season officially began on April 1, it became apparent that only 80% of Ontario’s fire crews were staffed. Vacancy rates at some bases were over 50%, and overall, only 143 out of the 189 needed crews have been filled. The $5,000 bonus offered by the government was not enough to boost recruitment numbers, particularly in northwestern and northeastern Ontario where many crews remain unstaffed. The understaffing raises concerns about the safety of those who are working to fight fires this summer, with allegations from OPSEU that the government is disregarding the health and safety of forest firefighters.
In addition to staffing issues, Ontario is also facing challenges with its aircraft fleet. Only three out of nine amphibious aircraft were ready for use at the start of the season, and at least two planes are not expected to be ready until June. One Twin Otter waterbomber will not be able to fly this summer due to needed repairs. Despite assurances from the government that the fleet is well-maintained and upgrades are planned for the next 25 years, concerns remain about the readiness of Ontario’s firefighting resources for the upcoming fire season.
Ontario NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, has expressed concerns about the province’s preparedness for the fire season, citing worries about the lack of support and equipment for firefighters. The government has stated that it has enough operational aircraft to fight fires based on the current threat level, but internal warnings suggest that there may be challenges in getting all waterbombers in the air when needed. The government is actively seeking pilots and engineers to fill vacancies, but there are concerns about their ability to maintain firefighting capabilities due to staffing shortages.
Despite ongoing recruitment efforts and attempts to address staffing and aircraft challenges, the Ford government in Ontario continues to face criticism for its management of the forest fire program. With the fire season now underway, concerns remain about the safety and effectiveness of firefighting efforts in the province. As the government works to address these issues and ensure adequate resources for fighting fires, the focus remains on protecting the health and safety of Ontarians, their property, and natural resources.
