Peter Milobar, Todd Stone, Mike Bernier, Jackie Tegart (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

ELECTION PROMISE

BC United pledge $78 million for wildfire prevention and response institute in Kamloops

Aug 6, 2024 | 7:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC United Party has unveiled their latest election plank ahead of this October’s provincial election.

With the backdrop of the city behind him, Kamloops MLA and party house leader Todd Stone announced that if elected, a BC United government will invest $78 million into a wildfire prevention and response institute. Stone flanked by fellow incumbent MLA’s Jackie Tegart, Mike Bernier and Peter Milobar stated the new institute would call Kamloops home with the goal of being operational ahead of the 2025 wildfire season.

“The focus of this institute would be to work in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, the private sector, Thompson Rivers University and other post secondary institutions around the province, local communities and of course First Nations and Indigenous peoples to dramatically accelerate and expedite the implementation of new cutting edge technologies,” said Stone.

The announcement comes a few months after BC Premier David Eby stood on the grounds of TRU to announce the creation of a wildfire training and education centre, to be built on the university’s campus. It’s yet to be seen how the NDP announcement would fit with the latest election promise from the official opposition, with Stone calling into question the government’s track record.

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“The difference is we have a track record of when we promise something, we actually deliver and it shows tangible results,” said Stone. “It’s time for tangible results when it comes to wildfire management, and wildfire fighting and that means an significant investment in more personnel, more air-fleet, and very importantly a very serious commitment to engage with the private sector to embrace any and all cutting edge technology and put it into practice here in British Columbia.”