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The federal government is providing more than half a million dollars to boost wildfire training in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as the country faces another season of extreme fire conditions.
Corey Hogan, parliamentary secretary to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, announced Monday that $540,300 will be distributed to two projects under Ottawa’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program.
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The Yorkton Tribal Council in Saskatchewan will receive $335,000 to train 35 members in wildland fire management. The program will combine technical firefighting skills with traditional knowledge and cultural burning practices aimed at reducing fire risk.
In Manitoba, the Rural Municipality of Piney has been granted $204,800 to support basic firefighting training for up to 60 participants from Piney and the neighbouring Buffalo Point First Nation.
The federal government said the investment will strengthen local capacity to respond to wildfires and open job opportunities in wildland firefighting.
“These fires are a direct and growing consequence of climate change,” Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said in a statement. “Strengthening local firefighting capacity is essential to protecting the places we call home.”
Officials said the new recruits will add to a national training push that has already surpassed targets. Ottawa initially aimed to train 1,000 community members, but more than 2,800 are now expected to be prepared for wildfire response.
The announcement came alongside the federal government’s latest wildfire forecast. Environment and Climate Change Canada expects above-average temperatures and dry conditions across much of the country into September, with Natural Resources Canada modelling elevated fire danger across British Columbia, the territories, the Prairies, Ontario and parts of Atlantic Canada.
Hogan said the funding reflects Ottawa’s commitment to supporting volunteers and community members on the front lines.
The Government of Canada has committed $20 million this year to wildfire resilience, including $15 million for the Canadian Red Cross to assist evacuees.
