As wildfires increase in frequency and severity across Canada due to climate change, the governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced a joint investment of $38.4 million over four years to enhance wildfire preparedness. The funding comes under the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program – Equipment Fund (FMWCC).
The announcement was made by federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, and Manitoba Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses. The funding will support Manitoba’s efforts to purchase and upgrade wildland firefighting equipment, thereby increasing provincial readiness and capacity to respond to wildfires.
The investment will help Manitoba purchase and upgrade firefighting equipment, improve safety for communities and firefighters, and strengthen capacities for resource exchange across Canada. It will also support the purchase of additional training equipment and materials to improve training and increase the number of skilled wildland firefighters and other staff.
Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson emphasized the urgency of responding to wildfires, stating, “After experiencing the most destructive forest fire season in our nation’s history in 2023, Canadians across the country are witnessing another spring of intense, early wildfires.”
Minister Sajjan highlighted the importance of equipping firefighters to respond safely and effectively, while Minister Vandal stressed the priority of protecting the health and safety of impacted communities. Minister Moses underscored the critical need for proper resources for Manitoba’s wildfire service.
Both the governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $19.2 million through a contribution agreement under the FMWCC Program – Equipment Fund. The FMWCC program, launched in 2022, supports provinces and territories in strengthening fire management capacities by facilitating the purchase of wildland firefighting equipment.
The Government of Canada is working with communities and organizations affected by wildfires to better understand the unique role the federal government plays in serving these communities, to offer nationally recognized equipment to support all firefighters to be better equipped to respond to wildland fires and to support a more sustainable approach to training, employment and all hazards management in Indigenous communities and beyond.
