Prince George councillor calls for public inquiry into wildfire mitigation

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The councillor said recent concerns about power reliability prompted him to speak out again. Earlier this week, BC Hydro warned that wildfires near Clinton and close to transmission infrastructure could result in short-term power outages in parts of the province.

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Skakun said the warning underscored the need for a coordinated response to wildfire risks before the situation worsens.

“How much worse does it have to get before we can have some sort of public inquiry with binding recommendations?” he asked. “We need to get the province on board, get our MPs on board and local governments working together.”

According to Skakun, discussions about wildfire mitigation often avoid contentious topics such as forest management practices, including clear-cut logging. He believes a formal inquiry could produce recommendations that governments would be compelled to address.

Skakun said he has already spoken with Councillor Trudy Klassen Frizzell, who chairs the city’s intergovernmental affairs committee, and expects the issue to be discussed at a committee meeting on Aug. 10.

While acknowledging that governments and organizations have studied wildfire management extensively, Skakun argues that a public inquiry would be different if it resulted in binding recommendations rather than advisory reports.

“It’s not reinventing the wheel,” he said. “If you had some type of public inquiry with binding recommendations that force the government to act, that’s going to be a little bit different than taking this cautious approach.”

Skakun said smoke that has affected Prince George this summer demonstrates how widespread the impacts of wildfires can be, even when the fires are located far from the city.

He is also calling for local governments to play a greater role in shaping wildfire mitigation strategies, including decisions around forest management near communities. Skakun said municipalities need resources and funding to help reduce wildfire risks and believes they deserve a seat at the table as the province considers future solutions.