Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM)

DAWSON CITY, YT, June 8, 2016/CNW/ – At their annual meeting in  Dawson City, Yukon, today, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers placed a  priority focus on wildland fire management. Despite their ecological benefits  to forests, predicted increase in the frequency and severity of wildland fires  poses tremendous risks for public health and safety, and infrastructure.

The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers agreed that federal,  provincial and territorial governments have a strong leadership role to play in  addressing these challenges. While many factors  contribute to fire hazards and situations across Canada, Ministers recognize  that the effects of climate change will only increase the number and risks of  more severe fire events. Given this context,  it is more  important than ever that governments collaborate, with other impacted  stakeholders, on a strategic and horizontally coordinated approach.

"The recent events in Fort  McMurray highlight the importance of a multi-pronged Canadian Wildland Fire  Strategy that ensures all parties are taking responsible actions to help keep  our citizens and communities safe, " said the Honourable Oneil Carlier,  Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.      

Today, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers unanimously  reaffirmed its commitment to its established goals and objectives for wildland  fire prevention, mitigation, preparedness and suppression by releasing the Canadian  Wildland Fire Strategy: A 10-Year Review and Renewed Call to Action. Building on Canada's strength as a  world leader in cross-jurisdictional fire response and long-term planning, Ministers  confirmed their shared vision and common goals of  resilient communities and empowered public, state-of-the-art wildfire  preparedness and response capability, and healthy and productive ecosystems.

"There's no doubt that we're  seeing an increase in wildfire activity due to climate change.  Now more than ever we need a cohesive  approach to wildfire management across the country, and I'm pleased that the  Canadian Council of Forest Ministers unanimously endorsed the renewed Canadian  Wildland Fire Strategy," said Honourable Steve Thomson, British Columbia's  Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations.

The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers also expressed messages of  support for the approximately 80,000 emergency evacuees, and the owners of the  nearly 2400 structures destroyed in the devastating Fort McMurray fire.    

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For more information,  media may contact:

Vivian Thomas
Communications Director
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural  Resource Operations
Victoria
250-356-2475
Vivian.Thomas@gov.bc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Council of Forest Ministers  Secretariat
Natural  Resources Canada
Ottawa
343-292-6100
NRCan.media_relations-media_relations.RNCan@canada.ca