Minister says nothing went wrong with Ottawa's response to Ontario wildfires
A federal minister has defended the government's response to Ontario wildfires, despite criticism from First Nations leaders regarding a lack of support. Indigenous communities have reported being forced to organize their own evacuations during emergency situations.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between federal emergency management and the rights and safety of Indigenous communities during climate-related disasters.
"I don't believe that anything did go wrong in this situation regarding the wildfires in Ontario," Olszewski told CBC's The House in an interview airing Saturday.
As of Thursday evening, 129 active fires were burning across northwestern Ontario, according to the provincial Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services agency.
Chiefs at this week's Assembly of First Nations (AFN) gathering in Ottawa passed an emergency resolution on Thursday, saying the federal and Ontario governments are failing northern Ontario First Nations, forcing them to organize their own evacuations due to what the assembly said was a lack of support from emergency management organizations.
The AFN's resolution called on the federal government to deliver emergency support to Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, about 250 kilometers north of Thunder Bay, whose members were forced to flee in boats when a wildfire engulfed their community on Monday .
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