For now, Premier Brad Wall wants the focus to remain on keeping people safe and putting out fires not what the disaster is costing the provincial budget.
So far, more than 13,000 people have been forced from their homes, the Canadian Armed Forces have been called in and the number of paid volunteer firefighters continues to grow.
“We don’t know the answer to that yet. I’ve asked officials not to be focused on that, we’ll know all those numbers when they come in,” Wall told reporters following a visit to a Red Cross run evacuee shelter in Saskatoon. “Our priority has to be on people right now, the safety of people, and property and putting out fires and getting folks back home.”
Wall said he’s asked his officials to start thinking about a request to the federal government.
“There is some support and we’ll be accessing all we can and all that we’re eligible for,” said the Premier about the federal government disaster assistance application process. “It’s already happened. They won’t be surprised by any ask from the province.”