Ontario Greens Call for Immediate Action as Wildfires Force Evacuations

June 10, 2025

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader Mike Schreiner is calling on the Ford government to reverse its irresponsible decision to cut funding for wildland firefighting and emergency preparedness, as wildfires continue to rage across the province.

“Communities across Ontario are being devastated by wildfires. This past weekend alone, 700 people were evacuated from Sandy Lake First Nation with the help of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Schreiner.

“The effects are being felt far beyond the fire zones. Dangerous air quality puts the health of thousands more at risk.”

Schreiner emphasized that the Ford government should not be caught off guard. “We’ve seen record-breaking wildfire seasons in recent years. This is not new, and yet the government chose to cut $42 million from wildfire response and $4 million from emergency preparedness.”

“Premier Ford claims to be protecting Ontario while ramming through legislation like Bill 5, which guts environmental protections and accelerates the climate crisis. At the same time, his government is slashing the very funding that keeps communities safe, leaving wildland firefighters at risk, without the resources they need to safely protect communities.”

“This is unacceptable,” said Schreiner. “We are calling on the Ford government to immediately restore funding for wildland firefighting and emergency preparedness, and to invest in the measures that truly protect Ontarians.”

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