Accounting firm MNP to conduct independent review of Saskatchewan’s 2025 wildfires

Tax and accounting firm MNP will conduct an independent review of the devastating wildfires that displaced thousands of people in Saskatchewan this summer.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the review will focus on the provincial government’s response, as well as fire evaluation and recovery efforts.

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Saskatchewan saw an early and active start to its fire season this year, with 504 wildfires reported. That’s ahead of the five-year average of 468, but below the 616 fires seen by Oct. 27, 2024.

“We are committed to ensuring Saskatchewan communities are safe and secure by taking meaningful actions to learn from this unprecedented wildfire season,” Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s public safety minister, said in a statement.

“MNP has extensive experience in conducting post-incident assessments and evaluations of a similar size and complexity – such as British Columbia and Alberta wildfires.”

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, MNP’s team includes specialists in public and Indigenous engagement, as well as experts in trauma-informed practices, which will help ensure the process “is responsive to diverse needs and experiences of wildfire-affected individuals and communities.”

The province said it expects the review to be completed before the next wildfire season begins, which typically occurs in late spring or early summer.

Meanwhile, the recovery efforts continue in communities like Denare Beach, where many homes were destroyed or damaged by fires this summer. Temporary modular homes have been installed in the community to house residents who were displaced by the fires, with more set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Sask. NDP calling for public inquiry

But while the province has committed to learning lessons from the independent review, and the Saskatchewan Ombudsperson has also opened an investigation into the government’s 2025 wildfire response, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling for a public inquiry.

According to NDP northern affairs critic Jordan McPhail, such an inquiry would be completely free of political interference.

“Why were half of the fleet of the water bombers left on the ground? Why weren’t they in a state of repair that they could fly at the beginning of wildfire season? They knew about this,” McPhail said.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson