Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP must learn from wildfire season and change course

Sep 7, 2023 | 3:13 PM

AS ATTENTION TURNS TO BACK TO SCHOOL and the return of usual routines, it’s important to remember that for so many people in our province, life will not go back to normal this fall.

B.C. faced its worst wildfire season in history this summer and fires continue to rage throughout the Interior. Thankfully, it looks like the worst of the crisis is now behind us, but hundreds of people’s lives and communities have been changed forever. Now begins the long, complicated road of rebuilding and recovery.

The last few months have been incredibly challenging, but even as I saw fires devastate my constituency in the Shuswap, I found encouragement in the remarkable strength and resilience of our community. In the most trying of times, I witnessed the unparalleled determination and unity that defines this region. Thanks to the collective efforts of so many people, we were able to prevent a worse situation from unfolding — yet we also know much more could have been done to prevent what transpired.

Amid the chaos and uncertainty, the people of Shuswap rose to the occasion, protecting their homes and loved ones — showing extraordinary courage to safeguard properties as a last resort. Additionally, volunteer and professional firefighters from various communities have gone above and beyond to keep people safe. We owe them a debt of gratitude that words can hardly express.

I also want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) and all the firefighters who joined the fight. While the lack of resources made available to the service, as well as the unacceptably late response from the NDP government, resulted in the BCWS being stretched too thin to completely protect the Shuswap, we are grateful to all those who put themselves at risk fighting these fires.

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We know this is far from the first time we have faced wildfires in B.C., and it certainly won’t be the last. It is vital that we remember the valuable lessons history has taught us, learning from our successes and failures to make better decisions in the future. We cannot just commission reports, like the 2018 Abbott/Chapman report published and submitted to the NDP five years ago, and then fail to acknowledge or implement their recommendations.

Simply put, progress on wildfire response in B.C. is not being made fast enough. We have towns like Lytton which, two years after being destroyed by fire, remains ignored and unrestored by the NDP government’s rebuild apathy and delays. Residents are still waiting to go home. The government’s utter failure to support the people of Lytton is not just unacceptable, it’s also a harsh reminder of something we cannot allow to be repeated. We must demand accountability from government, and a proactive approach to preparedness and prevention alongside a renewed strategy for firefighting and recovery. The resources and knowledge are available — there is no excuse for not implementing the measures needed to protect our communities.

In the wake of these fires, as we look to the long road ahead, it’s important to channel the same strength, determination, and care for each other that has carried us through these difficult times. We will rebuild, come together to support those affected, and hopefully, emerge from this trial stronger than before.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.