By Greg Fry

MP Cullen: Not enough money in budget to address wildfire risk

Mar 21, 2019 | 11:27 AM

OTTAWA — The NDP MP who represents northwest BC says the federal budget falls far short when it comes to addressing the wildfire risk.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley’s Nathan Cullen says the government has earmarked $211 million over 5 years to First Nations for emergency preparedness for on-reserve emergency management and 48 million over four years for climate resilient infrastructure.

The budget has divvied up $151 million over five years to improve emergency management across Canada – which includes wildfires – something Cullen calls inadequate considering the money is spread across the country and how devastating the past two wildfire seasons have been and the risk the region continues to face.

“In terms of the fire risk we head in the northwest, in terms of the crisis we’re facing in our forestry sector, this feels like a complete missed opportunity knowing that we may be headed into another significant problem year in regards to fires in the northwest and across B.C. and across Canada.”