Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe promises $500 in direct aid to each wildfire evacuee

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is promising $500 in direct aid payment per person to thousands of wildfire evacuees.

Moe says that money is on top of existing supports for the more than 10,000 people forced out of their homes due to a string of wildfires in Saskatchewan’s northern region.

He says the money will be distributed in a program co-ordinated with local leaders.

The comments come as Moe faces criticism from the provincial ombudsman and others that his government has failed to provide timely aid to evacuees, leaving some without shelter and being forced to sleep in their cars.

Moe says his government has been moving as quickly as possible since the provincial state of emergency was called two weeks ago, but acknowledges there have been, in his words, “challenges.”

The majority of the evacuees are from the Pelican Narrows and the La Ronge area, and those residents are either going back now or have been cleared to return later this week.