Republicans blast Canada over wildfire smoke, air quality in northern U.S.
Republican members of the U.S. Congress have sent a letter to Canadian officials criticizing their forest management practices in light of wildfire smoke affecting the northeastern United States. The lawmakers threaten independent U.S. action if Canada does not improve its wildfire prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Illustrates rising cross-border tensions regarding environmental policy and the health impacts of transboundary pollution.
July 16 | Duration 5:14 Thick smoke has settled over much of Ontario as wildfires burn in the northwestern part of the province. Environment Canada has issued yellow and orange air quality warnings for many regions. Social Sharing Republican members of U.S. Congress are slamming Canada's federal and provincial governments over what they claim is inaction in preventing the wildfires currently spreading smoke and poor air quality across much of the northeastern U.S., in addition to Central Canada.
The criticism comes in a sharply worded letter from four Michigan members of the House of Representatives, addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
It accuses Canada of failing to conduct adequate forest maintenance to reduce the risk of wildfires and warns that the U.S. "will look elsewhere, and act on our own" if more action isn't taken.
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