Statement from Minister Mostyn on Canada and Yukon announcing major investment to improve resilience against wildfires

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn has issued the following statement: 

“Wildfire season is in full effect across much of Canada, with many Canadians currently facing severe wildfire conditions. The Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon are supporting Canadians whose lives and livelihoods are at stake.

“Today, our governments announced a joint investment of $7.3 million through the Government of Canada’s Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program. Of this amount, the Government of Canada is providing over $5.5 million, and our government is investing over $1.8 million across four years through the RCF program. With this joint investment, the Government of Yukon is taking or has taken the following actions:

• Developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans with Yukon First Nations and municipal governments.
• Supporting education initiatives to increase Yukoners’ awareness of wildfire prevention and mitigation activities.
• Managing large-scale, strategic fuel breaks as green infrastructure to reduce wildfire risk around Yukon communities.
• Drafting a territorial prevention and mitigation strategy to guide wildfire risk reduction in the Yukon.
• Building capacity through fuels management training for Government of Yukon staff.
• Conducting enhanced risk assessment and modelling to identify high-risk areas and measure the effectiveness of mitigation actions.

“By working together with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the Government of Canada is supporting the fight against wildfires in communities across the country.

“Canadians – especially those of us in remote and northern communities – are focused on preparing for wildfires. This investment will support important wildfire prevention efforts in the Yukon. This includes developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans and a territorial prevention and mitigation strategy, constructing large-scale fuel breaks and improving our training and modelling and risk assessment. Together we are building wildfire-resilient communities across the Yukon.”