Georgina Jolibois stands in Parliament on Oct. 17 to ask questions about the provision of disaster assistance in remote communities in the event of wildfires, flooding and other disasters. Still frame from video on Facebook, Georgina Jolibois, MP Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River
Desnethe-Missinippi Churchill River MP Georgina Jolibois is pushing for action related to her riding’s vulnerability to natural and climate-changed related disasters.
Last week in the House of Commons, Jolibois reiterated concerns that were shared by Buffalo River, Clearwater River and La Loche residents when last summer’s Fort McMurray wildfires were inching closer.
Jolibois first brought up those concerns about federal disaster supports from northwest Saskatchewan in Parliament months ago, but she stood in Ottawa last week saying “I unfortunately have not received a reassuring response from the government.”
She says there is scientific evidence that the province’s north is more vulnerable to climate change and other environmental crises. For example, dry lightning is happening more in forested areas.
Jolibois is asking the federal government to provide greater relief for families when there are evacuations, and elaborated on that in an interview on Friday.
“What we came across when I went through the experience is that working people were not compensated. When the evacuations were called, they left but they had not income coming in. And that affected a huge amount of families throughout the whole north,” she said.
She wants Canada to help provinces before things get too close.
“To help the provinces, First Nations and the communities to help bring in resources to be better coordinated to respond before the fire is only a kilometre away, or half a kilometre away, or almost at the doorstep of the community,” she said.
Jolibois is also urging the feds to ensure that culturally relevant resources are supplied. Specifically, this means hiring local people to be involved during evacuations and in emergency operations centres.
The parliamentary secretary for emergency preparedness, Michel Picard, rose to respond to Jolibois’ federal concerns in Parliament last week.
He acknowledged the effect of the Fort McMurray wildfires on both Alberta and Saskatchewan, which included reserve land.
Picard also said wildfire risks are assessed each year by the federal government, and then contingency plans are created.
He said the government is reviewing Canada’s fire response from 2016 and will incorporate lessons from Fort McMurray for 2017.