Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, wildfires are an important part of the boreal forest, and naturally occurring fires are essential to ensuring forests remain healthy and sustainable. Allowing forest fires to burn where possible allows forests to regenerate and help to avoid larger and more dangerous fires later. All wildfires in the NWT are monitored and managed to ensure they do not pose a risk or threat to people, communities, infrastructure, or other assets.
Mr. Speaker, wildfire management starts before there is even a spark.
The Government of the Northwest Territories works with our partners throughout the year to promote FireSmart principles within our forested communities. FireSmart means working together, from individual residents to neighbours to communities and all levels of government, to keep residents safe, to be prepared, and to be more resilient when wildfires strike.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources encourages NWT residents to take steps around their homes, businesses, camps, and cabins to reduce the risk of wildfires, wildfire damage.
We have developed new resources for kids, adults, and businesses to provide information and tools. Our FireSmart presence online has been overhauled and we have invested in a targeted marketing campaign to build FireSmart awareness. We are working with communities on training, community protection plans, and preparedness, so we are ready for wildfires before they even begin.
This year, four communities took the initiative to plan wildfire community protection days. Activities took place in Fort Smith, Kakisa, Tulita, and Yellowknife, including along the Ingraham Trail at Tibbitt Lake. This is the most community engagement we have seen in the territory in any single year.
We encourage residents to take FireSmart steps at home, steps like keeping the area within a metreandahalf of their home or cabin free of material that can burn, as well as cleaning brush and branches from their yard.
Mr. Speaker, NWT fire crews, and a team of technical and operational staff, have supported them and have been busy preparing for this year's fire season. Welltrained firefighters are ready to go across the NWT, including many who are members of contracted crews managed by local Indigenous governments and businesses. Air tankers and other key wildfire management equipment are also at the ready.
We have 36 fourman crews to attack fires, and five air tanker groups ready to support fire operations wherever they are needed throughout the fire season.
Mr. Speaker, protecting NWT residents and communities is a top priority as we deliver these essential services. For the past two seasons, our wildfire teams were required to adhere to strict COVID19 protocols, and this summer we will continue to make adjustments so that we have healthy crews to respond to fires when needed.
We have hired additional staff in smaller communities to reduce the need to bring in firefighters from other regions, or outside the territory, and we will have access to additional air tankers to respond to fires when they are small. While we are ready to respond to wildfires when we need to, it is important that we continue to take steps this summer to prevent them before they start.
Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we all take steps to prevent humancaused wildfires. Experience tells us that wildfires caused by humans tend to happen closer to towns and often threaten homes and cabins. I encourage all residents to be safe this summer when you go out on the land, enjoying the natural beauty of the NWT. Make sure to properly manage campfires and burn piles and be careful with cigarettes. Let us do our part to prevent forest fires. That includes understanding the environmental conditions and the fire danger level before you go out. It also means avoiding campfires when the fire danger is high or extreme, unless a fire is necessary for cooking or warmth.
In closing, I would like to recognize the firefighters and wildfire management teams across the NWT for all that you do to keep NWT residents and families safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.
