Here is an update for you, my fellow forest protectors. The photo above is a screen shot of the forest fires happening right now as I write you this message. Our air quality is at risk around the world and no one is safe. Last month, my own home city of Toronto was ranked number 1 in the world for air pollution. 

For the first time in my life, I could not have travelled anywhere in my own country to escape the suffocating smoke that was burning my eyes and lungs while I followed instructions and stayed indoors. I refuse to accept that this is our future! This experience scared me enough to start this petition and commit to doing more for our environment. 

We are now over 10,000 supporters strong and counting! This petition has grown bigger than I ever expected. I sincerely thank you for signing and supporting this forest protection action.

We have received the first response to our petition. Please read and post your comments in the comment section. This is just the beginning. I will continue to keep you posted on our progress. 

In the meantime, please contact your Federal MP’s. If you receive a response, please post in the comments. Let’s continue to make noise and do whatever is possible to proactively protect our forests, wildlife and fellow citizens.

Finally, if you can, please plant some trees in your own neighbourhood and share your experience in the comments. Right now, our world needs more trees. 

Jennifer Claveau

 

Dear Jennifer, 

Thank you very much for writing and please accept my apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Thank you for picking up my call last week, and, as promised, I am sending over the list of federal government's actions on tackling the wildfires in the present in the future.

Some of the actions our federal government has taken so far to fight wildfires across the country include: 

Approving Requests for Federal Assistance in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec including the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces members to airlift resources and aid in firefighting roles;  
Investing to train more community-based firefighters across the country this season, including 300 Indigenous firefighters and 125 Indigenous fire guardians;   
Receiving hundreds of firefighters from other countries to support our efforts over the coming days and weeks;  
Partnering with provincial and territorial governments and not-for-profit organizations to match funds donated by Canadians and organizations. For example, this includes a donation matching program with Alberta through the Canadian Red Cross 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal, where every dollar donated becomes $3 in support towards those affected by wildfires. We are setting up similar donation matching programs in the Northwest Territories and Nova Scotia. 
  

For the seasons to come, our federal government is investing in:  

Providing an unprecedented portrait of all active wildfires at least twice daily with the WildFireSat satellite mission, the world’s first purpose-built, public satellite system for monitoring fires. This will inform provincial and territorial fire management agencies making critical decisions.  
A Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative, in support of the priorities identified by the National Adaptation Strategy, with a proposed investment of $284 million to:  
enhance the FireSmart Canada program; 
increase Canadians’ resilience to wildfire while building wildland fire knowledge through research and pilot projects on fire risk reduction measures; and 
create a Centre of Excellence for Wildland Fire Innovation and Resilience to help transform wildland fire management in Canada and internationally through innovation, knowledge exchange and supporting Indigenous fire stewardship. 
 

Kindly, consider looking into this official Natural Resources Canada webpage, providing the full list of our federal government’s actions during this wildfire season.  

 

Our federal government will always be there to keep Canadians safe, build strong, resilient communities, and help people rebuild after disaster strikes. 

Once again, thank you very much for writing. It is because of engaged citizens such as yourself that we able to build a better community and country.  

 

Best regards, 

Daria Diakova, on behalf of Julie Dzerowicz 

Member of Parliament  

Davenport