Michael McLeod, MP for the Northwest Territories, addressed some concerns among some residents that federal representation has not been visible so far during the wildfire evacuation.
Stated one social media post on Aug. 24:
SA国际影视传媒淚 saw a post in my feed that asked the question: Who in the heck is Michael McLeod? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a darned good question, isnSA国际影视传媒檛 it? Where has our MP been through this emergency?
SA国际影视传媒淚 never see him in the news and kind of forgot he even exists. His absence and silence is something ISA国际影视传媒檒l remember during the next election.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod, who has been in his hometown of Fort Providence during the evacuation, told SA国际影视传媒 in an interview on Thursday that he has not been present at wildfire information updates but has been busy as the federal representative facilitating communications between local representatives and bodies within the federal government.
SA国际影视传媒淢y role has been primarily to listen to concerns ISA国际影视传媒檝e been hearing from people on the ground, talking to the evacuees, mayors, MLAs, chiefs and sharing their concerns with federal ministers, sharing it with the GNWT and, in some cases, with the Indigenous governments,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd of course, the issues that other people are raising continue to come forward about meetings, applications, and those things continue to happen. So itSA国际影视传媒檚 keeping me pretty busy.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod said he has been careful not to overstep his role in matters where the GNWT and municipality have jurisdiction.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Government of the Northwest Territories is an elected, responsible government that has jurisdiction over forest management and fire suppression and ISA国际影视传媒檓 not at the press conferences because ISA国际影视传媒檓 not part of the city, or the City of Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he explained. SA国际影视传媒淚 have no direction over resources or personnel in response to the wildfires. So those (city and territory) are the people that Northerners need to hear from during the events and they are best positioned to give updates on the work thatSA国际影视传媒檚 being done.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have to be very careful that I donSA国际影视传媒檛 get involved to a point where it causes disruption. They are the decision-makers and we work well together in terms of communication and also as a government providing support.SA国际影视传媒�
According to the premierSA国际影视传媒檚 office, McLeod hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been invited to recent wildfire news conferences which have involved the territorial and municipal governments taking the lead on communications.
SA国际影视传媒淢P McLeod has been in frequent contact with cabinet and staff throughout this fire season and his support is appreciated,SA国际影视传媒� said Premier Caroline Cochrane in a series of written responses, Aug. 24.
SA国际影视传媒淢P McLeod has not been invited to participate in the press conferences to date, as those (news conferences) have been focused on getting information from those working directly on the emergency response and leadership from communities affected.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is worth noting that federal departments have been engaging regularly through emergency operations, at the public service level and politically. SA国际影视传媒�
Climate change and northern disasters
McLeod has been vocal during his tenure as MP regarding the need for climate change awareness in the North and the unique impact wildfires, floods, melting permafrost and other issues related to climate change have had on the NWT.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e long said that we are on the frontlines of climate change and anyone who did not believe that before this summer should really reconsider that now,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting that this summerSA国际影视传媒檚 fires have SA国际影视传媒渂urned hotter, burned deeper and travelled fasterSA国际影视传媒� than in the past.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 because climate change is allowing that to happen,SA国际影视传媒� he asserted.
McLeod said the NWT is going to have to examine over the long term the extent to which communities can respond to these changing conditions. He listed numerous items that communities may need to be better prepared for including various types of equipment, technical expertise and better communications strategies.
SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 continue to fight fires the same way as we did historically and all levels of government have to recognize that,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he federal government needs to play a greater role when it comes to providing resources. Our jurisdiction here in the Northwest Territories doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough water bombers to fight all these fires at the same time. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough personnel to be able to fight over the fires at the same time.
SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the technical expertise in some cases to deal with all the number of fires that are burning at the same time.SA国际影视传媒�
In terms of addressing overall costs from the crisis, McLeod said the Government of Canada will have a role to play, including with its Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement, which provides financial assistance directly to provincial and territorial governments for large-scale disasters.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the most important priorities governments have to deal with is making sure we minimize the financial impact of these wildfires in NWT households,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting that he expects SA国际影视传媒渢he most expensive disaster our territory has ever experienced to date.SA国际影视传媒�
