Wildfire damage in the Shuswap (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE PLAN

BC United unveils wildfire plan on the heels of NDP government task force announcement

Sep 19, 2023 | 4:11 PM

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Last week, Premier David Eby was in Kamloops to announce a task force on emergencies to provide advice to increase local volunteer recruitment, to further collaborate with communities and First Nations as well as a number of other initiatives. On Tuesday (Sept 19), at the UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) convention, the BC United Party responded with a plan of its own.

The United plan focuses on five key areas, including modernized firefighting services, leveraging local expertise, empowering local response teams, swift support for evacuees and forest management and prevention.

The party was quick to state how its plan differs from the NDP’s by taking immediate action.

“The last thing the public wants to see, by the way, is another task force, another panel of experts, another review — which is what David Eby, the premier, recently announced,” said BC United House Leader Todd Stone. “We don’t need another task force that is just going to go away and end up coming back with the same recommendations that have been on the table for years and years. It is time to take action.”

Question of the Week

Do you have confidence in the vote-counting carried out by Elections BC?

Oct 28, 2024

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Oct. 21

Oct 26, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Facing caucus revolt, Justin Trudeau could learn from Joe Biden

Oct 25, 2024

This year, when the Bush Creek East wildfire quickly spread toward communities in the North Shuswap, several locals stayed behind, defying evacuation orders to help protect their homes and their neighbours’. Under the BC United plan, those individuals would be better trained and equipped to help.

“To treat people as villains and demonize them because they make the choice to stay behind and protect their own properties and that of their neighbours is just wrong,” said Stone. “The fact of the matter is our plan would engage and empower these local community response teams, these contractors, loggers, farmers, ranchers, well ahead of time to ensure they have the training, the equipment, supplies.”