SASKATOON — Significant gaps were identified in the provincial government’s emergency preparedness during the 2025 wildfire season, based on the findings of a long-awaited independent review by consulting firm MNP. The government released the report Friday, June 12.
MNP, according to the report, said that although last year’s wildfire season tested Saskatchewan’s emergency management system, it also revealed major weaknesses, many of which had already existed but were worsened by conditions such as prolonged drought and extreme fire behaviour.
The report, which assessed the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s wildfire and emergency management efforts before and during the 2025 wildfire season, found significant gaps in prevention and mitigation, as well as in wildfire and emergency preparedness.
The government acknowledged this, with Community Safety Minister Michael Weger saying that the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency should commit to implementing reforms based on the recommendations in the report.
“After reading the 107-page review, it is clear that [SPSA] must do better. As the minister responsible for the [SPSA], I'm here to tell you that I believe the [SPSA] can and will do better, and this will happen with the support of the Government of Saskatchewan and with guidance taken from this review,” said Weger during a media event at the Saskatoon Cabinet Office.
He then announced 11 immediate action items, including reviewing the SPSA's organizational structure and emergency response model, improving communication through faster activation of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and expanding community involvement in wildfire response.
Introducing advanced fire modelling and detection technology, creating a FireSmart grant program offering up to $40,000 for communities, establishing community wildfire reservists, simplifying procurement processes for local contractors, improving inventory management and recovery planning, and strengthening mental health supports for staff are the other action items.
Weger said many of these actions were developed through discussions with northern leaders, business owners and residents affected by last year's fires, emphasizing that wildfire mitigation, preparedness and community engagement will be priorities moving forward.
He also acknowledged that further staffing and financial investments may be required, stressing that the government must learn from every wildfire season through regular after-action reviews as it continues to work to protect communities threatened by wildfire.
“We’re discussing that most of these items are what I would characterize as immediate action items. So, work is beginning on these, and for some of these items, the [SPSA] did its own after-action review of last year's wildfire season. But these are action items we believe we can implement very quickly,” added Weger, who was joined by SPSA president Marlo Pritchard.
Pritchard accepted responsibility for the agency's performance last year, stating that "the ultimate responsibility is mine as president,” adding that the agency did not wait for the MNP review and immediately made improvements following an internal review after the 2025 wildfire season.
He said the agency overhauled the SPSA’s evacuation and registration systems, invested additional funding and staff resources into emergency support programs, improved co-ordination for financial assistance to evacuees, tested updated evacuation procedures during the 2026 Lobstick Fire response, and enhanced preparedness by conducting training, improving procurement processes and pre-positioning federal firefighting aircraft in Saskatchewan.
Calls for accountability
Dustin Trembley, who was among the Denare Beach residents who lost everything last year and has been vocal in calling for accountability, said that, in his personal opinion, Pritchard and Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod, who was formerly the minister responsible for the SPSA, should resign. Weger replaced McLeod, who was moved to the Justice Ministry, during a cabinet shuffle in December 2025.
“I honestly do think Steve [Roberts] and Marlo [Pritchard] both should resign from their positions. And that is my opinion. I'm not sure if they share that opinion, but as far as I'm concerned, there was a significant break in management and communication,” said Trembley, who was joined by Saskatchewan NDP associate shadow minister for community safety Hugh Gordon outside the Saskatoon Cabinet Office after Weger’s announcement.
“Some people, their lives have changed forever. Apparently, Marlo only answers to nobody but Moe. We are all taxpayers; he should answer to all of us.”
He added that the report only validates what residents have been saying for the past year — that there were serious failures in wildfire management, communication and leadership — expressing frustration that no formal apology has been offered to affected communities. He said northern residents deserved better treatment from government officials and SPSA management.
Gordon backed up Trembley’s statements, saying that the MNP report confirms many of the Opposition’s concerns about how the provincial government handled the 2025 wildfire season, exposes the SPSA’s management failures and demonstrates the need for accountability and the immediate implementation of the recommendations.
