As the City of Yellowknife was declaring a state of local emergency, Canada’s NDP leader was urging the federal government to provide more support to the NWT.
While Singh did speak highly of the members f the Canadian Armed Forces who have already been working in the NWT to put out the fires, he added that there is more the Government of Canada can do to help.
“The Northwest Territories needs meaningful action from the federal government to address the climate crisis fuelling extreme weather disasters and more support for front-line workers, residents and communities dealing with the impact.” he said in a statement.
Singh was in Hay River and in Kátł’odeeche First Nation earlier this year, where he called on the federal government to provide more support for front-line workers fighting wildfires and greater investment in climate disaster mitigation for municipalities and Indigenous communities to better prepare and respond to climate disaster.
“My thoughts are with the families of Hay River and everywhere in the Northwest Territories,” said Singh. “Climate disasters are happening all over the country and people are losing everything they value the most. Lives have been lost amid these disasters. While we welcome and thank the Canadian Forces coming to help, the federal government must act to ensure people are getting all the support they need to get through this difficult time.”
