REGINA — With wildfire season fast approaching in Saskatchewan, preparations continue by the province, but one major piece remains in progress.
That is the MNP independent wildfire review of last year’s devastating fire season. The NDP Opposition had been critical of the government, saying the report had been expected by February.
On Monday, Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger confirmed an extension has been granted for the report. He spoke to reporters about the reasons why.
“It's my understanding that MNP became aware that some communities and individuals in those communities hadn't had their voices heard yet,” said Weger.
“And so there was some reaching out to see if that could be accommodated. Of course, I think it makes sense that we hear from everyone who has some input from the communities that were affected. And then there was some work that had to be done with a fire behavioural specialist, and that had to be done through MNP's office as well.”
He said the president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, wanting a fulsome report, “authorized the extension to that report.”
Weger added that this is “a very quick timeline for MNP. You look across other jurisdictions. It's taken years for this type of report to be prepared, and knowing that they're almost complete and we should have it by the end of spring, I think that's really good news.”
