The opposition is still seeking answers to this past summer’s wildland fires in northwestern Ontario.
They, and others, have been critical about how well the Ministry of Natural Resources was prepared.
Two First Nations and several lodges were destroyed by fires this past summer.
Thousands of people, many from First Nations communities, were forced to evacuate, in some cases, without the immediate support of the province.
Speaking at Queen’s Park, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says a public inquiry is needed.
“Many more communities were forced to evacuate to places all over Ontario,” says Mamakwa.
“This government let the north down. Will the premier launch a public inquiry into the government’s emergency response to the wildfires?
Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris says a review of operations internally is underway, but deflects the demand by outlining the investments the government has made to wildland firefighting
“We have increased the wildland firefighting budget by 114%,” says Harris.
“Under the previous Liberal-NDP coalition, that budget was stagnant, stagnant for years. It was one of the first things we did when we came in and we took government, was increase that budget because we knew it was important.”
Harris adds that the province has also ordered six new CL515 water bombers and is in the process of acquiring five new helicopters.
The opposition is calling a recent funding announcement to improve two Ministry of Natural Resources fire bases a band-aid solution.
Twenty million dollars is being allocated to improve bases used by wildland firefighters near Fort Frances and Sioux Lookout.
NDP Critic Guy Bourgouin says while it is a good step forward, the Ford government needs to properly fund the wildland fire program.
“And provide the base operating budget firefighters have been asking for in the sum of approximately 300 million per year,” states Bourgouin in a release.
He also wants to see more local decision-making to tackle fires.
He says much of the command is now centralized and shifted further from the affected regions.
“People managing fires in northern Ontario need the authority to make decisions locally,” Bourgouin.
“They understand the terrain, the communities, the available resources, the weather, and the conditions on the ground.”
The NDP also continue to support First Nations leadership in calling for a public inquiry into this year’s response to the fire season.
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate this year because of out-of-control wildland fires, many doing so on their own, which has led to questions about the province’s preparedness, communications, evacuation process, and the allocation of resources and supports for residents.
“We urge Doug Ford and his ministers to learn from what happened and fix what is not working, and to stop treating northern communities as an afterthought that only gets action after preventable crises worsen,” states Bourgouin.
Ontario’s Natural Resources Minister is dismissing the need for a public inquiry into the province’s response to this year’s wildland fire season.
First Nation leaders of the communities who were forced to evacuate this year, opposition MPPs and residents impacted have been critical of Ontario’s preparedness and response to this year’s season.
Mike Harris says they will do a review once the fire season is over.
“After every fire season we do quite a deep dive into the good things that have happened, maybe some of the challenges that we had, things we can work on, things we can replicate for the following year,” says Harris.
“But I want to make it very clear we’re very focused right now on making sure that people and property are saved.”
Harris does say that emergency management planning is one area that may get further review, and how Ministry of Natural Resources wildland firefighters can help property, homes and businesses sooner.
“Looking at ways that we can work with communities to set up values protection ahead of time so that we’re not doing it sort of last minute as fires approach and people are trying to evacuate out of the community,” says Harris.
“Each community is a little bit different. We’re continually working with them to try and develop what plans make the most sense, and we’ll keep doing that as we move forward.”
First Nation leaders of communities evacuated have also been critical of the lack of communication from the government.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford says there has been continued dialogue with First Nations about this year’s wildland fire season.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford speaks from Kenora on his Ministry’s response to this year’s wildland fire season, July 30, 2026. Government of Ontario/YouTube screen shot
He says he personally has made regular contact through text messages and telephone calls.
He adds his Ministry has held meetings with community leaders and Indigenous organizations on the supports that can be provided.
“Some First Nations leaders have chosen to have those meetings with us in private, choosing not, of course, to take this to the media, but rather focus on the safety of their community members, engage in best practices, whether it’s readiness, suppression, or the processes within evacuation and repatriation,” says Rickford.
Rickford adds that information from those meetings will also be used in any review taken on this year’s fire season.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop says she has also met with First Nation leaders.
“I gave an example last week, and in the meantime, I have spoken with several other leaders of communities who have been evacuated and taken the feedback on what we can be doing better if this were to ever happen or to other communities, may it happen in the future,” says Dunlop.
Dunlop adds that the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, which monitors and manages responses to major emergencies across Ontario, has handled over 100 coordination calls since July 14th.
She says the centre is working directly with First Nation leadership as well as other provincial and federal ministries, including Indigenous Services Canada.
“There is a lot of coordination going on, a lot of communication, and I think we’re very proud of the work that we’re doing,” says Dunlop.
She says they will continue to reach out to First Nation leadership to ensure that they are providing the best services possible to ensure the safety of their communities and residents.
Fourteen communities were evacuated because of threatening wildland fires.
Dunlop says five have since been allowed to return home, with another in the process of returning in the coming days.
Ontario’s NDP leader is ramping up First Nations’ request for a public inquiry into the Ministry of Natural Resources’ response to this year’s wildland fire season.
Marit Stiles was with First Nations leaders when they issued the call earlier this week.
Chiefs of the communities evacuated say they were forced to take action on their own in moving people and finding alternative accommodations because the MNR was slow to react or failed to acknowledge the seriousness of fires that sparked nearby.
“We need to know how this happened, and we need to know how we can make sure that the people of Ontario are never put at such risk again,” says Stiles.
“We need to hear from every one of those people. We need to hear from the frontline workers, and frankly, they are going to need some protection to be able to speak honestly about what took place there.”
Ontario’s Auditor General notes that a review of MNR wildland management policies and procedures was already in progress.
There is no word on when that report will be issued.
Stiles says while that report will provide some very important information, an inquiry brings full transparency and accountability from the government.
“A public inquiry would allow MPPs, members of the public to hear directly from the people that were involved and to actually compel people to testify,” says Stiles.
“It would require actual ministers, even the Premier himself, would have to answer direct questions, and that is really significant.”
Stiles also supports calls for the resignation of cabinet ministers directly connected to the wildland fire and emergency response.
This includes Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation.
“I was shocked, frankly, and very disappointed when I met with chiefs, First Nations leadership and heard that they are not receiving any communication or outreach from Minister Rickford,” says Stiles.
“Minister Dunlop and Minister Rickford are not up to the job.” (Natural Resources) Minister Harris (Mike Harris) is going to have to answer for failures in his own ministry.”
Acadia News has reached out to Rickford for comment.
