WEST KELOWNA, BC,
May 10,
2024 /CNW/ - Last year, Canada's wildfire season was the most
destructive on record. Communities across the country were
devastated, with thousands of Canadians being forced to flee their
homes and leave everything behind. But first responders answered
the call. They selflessly risked their lives to save others, and
thousands of volunteers across Canada stepped up to provide help to their
neighbours and communities in need.
Budget 2024 is about restoring fairness for every
generation. That means taking climate action, protecting our
communities, supporting our brave firefighters, and ensuring future
generations don't foot the bill for the costs of inaction.
Today, the Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, highlighted measures included in Budget 2024
to support volunteer firefighters, bolster Canada's wildfire preparedness, and help
Indigenous communities respond to emergencies.
Here's what we're doing:
- Doubling the Volunteer Firefighter and Search and Rescue
Volunteer Tax Credits, which will increase from $3,000 to $6,000
for 2024, saving volunteer firefighters up to an additional
$450 per year.
- Investing $800,000 more to
expand firefighting capacity. This funding will help the
International Association of Fire Fighters expand their training
program for structural firefighters to respond to wildfires that
impact urban areas. This builds on existing funding to support the
federal government's commitment to train 1,000 wildland
firefighters.
Indigenous communities are often located in remote areas, where
there is a higher risk of natural disasters. Budget 2024
announces investments in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to
save lives and better protect communities against wildfires. We
are:
- Investing over $145
million to help First Nations
communities prepare for emergencies. This
includes developing community-specific plans to respond to natural
disasters and builds on the $260
million announced in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement
to support wildfire response activities on First Nations
communities.
- Providing $20.9
million for fire prevention in First Nations
communities. This funding will support the First Nations Fire
Protection Strategy, 2023 to 2028 by distributing fire alarms and
fire extinguishers to home and community facilities on reserve, as
well as assisting fire-related education programs.
- Committing $9 million to help
support Indigenous governments directly affected by the 2023
wildfires in the Northwest
Territories. This funding will help Indigenous partners
reimburse expenses incurred when they were providing cultural
supports to community members during the 2023 wildfire season.
The investments highlighted today will be critical in building a
safer, more resilient Canada.
We're taking bold climate action, protecting our communities, and
making sure that Canada's
volunteer firefighters get the support they deserve – and these are
just some of the things included in Budget 2024. Alongside
these measures, we're growing our economy, building more homes,
investing in health care, and creating good-paying jobs so that
every generation can get ahead.
Quotes
"Climate change is here, and we're making sure
our communities are ready. With Budget 2024, we're investing in
emergency management, supporting our dedicated volunteer
firefighters, and making sure Canadians have what they need to stay
safe. We will stay resilient; we will stay united; and we will get
through this, together."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister of Canada
"Last year was the worst wildfire season in Canadian history,
and climate change is only causing more frequent and more extreme
wildfires. That's why in Budget 2024, we are investing in the first
responders who keep us safe, and in the tools communities,
including Indigenous communities, need to protect Canadians from
wildfires."
— The Hon. Chrystia Freeland,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
"As we prepare for another potentially severe wildfire season,
it's more important than ever that we support those who are on the
frontlines. With the increased tax credit for volunteer
firefighters and search and rescue volunteers, and the commitment
to increase firefighting capacity and support at-risk Indigenous
communities, we are adapting to the new reality of climate
change."
— The Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan,
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of
Canada
Quick Facts
- Canada's 2023 wildfire season
resulted in over 235,000 people being evacuated from their homes.
By September 2023, 297 evacuation
orders had been issued nationally. This included those for more
than 95 Indigenous communities – more than the four previous years
combined.
- On May 9, 2024, Government of
Canada officials provided an
updated seasonal outlook for the 2024 wildfire season.
Higher-than-normal temperatures are expected nationwide for the
spring and summer, setting the stage for the possibility of another
active wildfire season and other incidents of extreme weather. The
warmer than normal temperatures last winter and drier than usual
conditions may result in some regions – particularly British Columbia and the Prairies –
experiencing early, above normal, fire activity.
- Since 2019, the Government of Canada has invested over $800 million for initiatives that
support wildland fire response, prevention, and
mitigation.
- The Government of Canada's
Budget 2024 was tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Finance on April
16, 2024.
Associated Links
- Fairness for Every Generation
- Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
- First Nations Fire Protection Strategy, 2023 to 2028
- 2023 Fall Economic Statement
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- Wildfires
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office