The federal government is building its own aerial wildfire fighting fleet in the wake of Canada’s second-worst forest fire season on record.
Quebec MP Anthony Housefather was in Winnipeg Monday morning to highlight a federal budget line of $257.6 million over four years for Natural Resources Canada to lease four aircraft to aid in future wildfire fights.
Details on the funding were scant. Housefather said the federal government will be working with the provinces and territories to determine which type of aircraft is most needed to support firefighting efforts.
The federal government will be leasing the yet-to-be determined aircraft in order to get them in time for next year’s wildfire season.