Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the province of Alberta has recently declared an early start to their fire season this February, which is a real evidence that climate change is a historic reality for Canada. Now our concern here is, of course, more wildfires, more evacuations, more issues that are going to relate to our four seasons. So I'd like to ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, are we moving are we in a position to move up our wildfire season as well? Are we looking at that to ensure we're prepared for what's sure to be coming down the pike. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Yes, plans are already underway to start our fire crews and aviation contracts earlier in the season. This will allow training to happen sooner, especially on the resources that are in the South with the potential for additional early season fires. So we should have everything up and running in early May. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister. That's good news. Is the department going to as private sector contractors are important in our firefighting efforts, will those contracts be moved up as well to give our aviation companies, in particular, time to prepare and bid on those so they're not conflicted with other contracts they've committed to? Thank you.
Yes, the plan is to start our aviation contracts earlier in the year. Most of the contracts that we have for fixed wing aviation are longterm, multiyear contracts. And there's a provision within the contract through notification from the department to allow those contracts to start sooner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. Does the Minister feel that the department has adequate resources to begin this work at this time? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have increased our resources. From last year's allocation, we brought on some extra rotary wing as well as by identifying the need and potential for holdover fires to have early activity in the spring of 2024. We are ensuring that our resources are brought on sooner and that the preparation work, which much of which started in the fall of 2023, is completed and prepared for a potential early start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister. For clarification, does the department have enough financial resources in its current budget to accommodate the early start to the fire season? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the budget for the fire suppression program is a predetermined budget that is very much based on our contractual obligations. So typically, it is the practice of the department when we start our season earlier that there's a potential that we may have we may end the season earlier, but that is all really dependent on the level of activity and the amount of fires and resources that are required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
