NWT MP Michael McLeod, as well as representatives from the Department of Environment and Climate Change, announced a little more than $10 million to help make the territory less prone to severe damage from wildfires.
The money SA国际影视传媒� with approximately $7.7 million coming from Ottawa and the remainder from the GNWT SA国际影视传媒� will be spread over the next five years. The initiative is part of Ottawa's Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative, and the FireSmart Program is designed to help communities with wildfire preparation.
The territory will use the money to do things like launch a FireSmart home assessment program in the territory, as well as cross-train members of 17 fire departments to deliver programs in their communities.
There are still some kinks to work out. Mike Gravel, director of forest management with the GNWT, pointed out that the territory is still in the process of developing regional FireSmart committees. Those committees will need to prioritize where these investments will go, he said.
McLeod mentioned the potential for designing houses with fire protection if a community is at a higher risk of being affected by fire.
More broadly, McLeod cited climate change as not only a reason behind the but also a reason to act.
"If we do not prepare for worsening wildfires, we will fail ourselves and our children," he said.
McLeod added said the Government of Canada has also been working to implement the best solutions it has to reduce carbon emissions in the long-term and to ensure the country is prepared to respond to frequent wildfire situations.
