Wildfires are increasing in frequency and in severity across Canada because of climate change, impacting our health, economies, communities and wildlife. As another difficult wildfire season is underway, the Governments of Canada and Manitoba will support Canadians and Manitobans threatened by wildfires while strengthening our ability to adapt to a changing climate.
Today, the Honourable Harjit 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, was joined by the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, to make an announcement with the Honourable Jamie Moses, Manitoba Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources, to jointly invest $38.4 million over four years under the Government of Canada's Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program - Equipment Fund (FMWCC) to support Manitoba's efforts to purchase wildland firefighting equipment to enhance provincial readiness and capacity to prepare for and respond to wildland fires.
Funding announced today will help Manitoba purchase and upgrade firefighting equipment to increase wildland fire preparedness and response efforts, improve safety for communities and firefighters alike, and strengthen capacities and capabilities for resource exchange across Canada. In addition, the funding will support the purchase of additional training equipment and materials to improve training and increase the number of skilled wildland firefighters and other staff.
Keeping Canadians safe and healthy is the government's top priority. Working together with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the federal government continues to address and support the fight against wildfires while combatting the effects of climate change while ensuring public safety and protecting homes, livelihoods and lives.
